East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network is actively promoting the development Community Energy Projects across East Cambridgeshire. Local community energy groups can take a wide variety of different formats. They could be local energy clubs where people get together to share experiences of reducing energy costs and improving the energy efficiency of their homes. Or it could be local residents getting together to put solar PV panels on their roofs and being able to get a good deal from a supplier who could install ten systems locally rather than just one. The local residents have a greater “bargaining power”.
Another local project could involve the installation of a local community Solar energy Farm or a community wind turbine. Churches, schools or community centres could have an air of ground source heat pump installedThe key thing about these community energy projects – is that they are initiated by LOCAL people and WANTED by the local community. However, it often requires local “Community Energy Champions” to get the ball rolling! This could be an individual person or a group of keen enthusiasts to develop the idea and engage with local people to get the support of the local community.
The articles below contain resources to inspire and persuade groups to get started. If you need any help click on the button above to email us.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) are asking people to sign their open letter in support of ending restictions on onshore wind. They say: it’s time to release our mighty wind – and no, not the kind you might think I mean. We already benefit from renewable wind and solar energy. But this country could produce
As a follow-up to the Community Energy Event held by East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network in June 2023, the Network is supporting Cambridgeshire County Council’s Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on the 24 April 2024. The workshop is entitled “Supporting Communities to Benefit from the Energy Transition” The aim of the event is to gather stakeholder input
East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network is working with Cambridge Carbon Footprint to get your input in order to get a better understanding of the type of community climate action support that is needed in Cambridgeshire. By completing our simple survey, you’ll contribute to a strategy for collective action, help us to learn from existing efforts, and
Community Energy South run an online webinar on “Decarbonising your School” in November 2023. It provided some useful insights in how to Decarbonise your school, put solar on the roof, install a heat pump – and figure out how to save Energy. You can now watch it below. You will learn: What you need to
With the new changes to the planning regime ending the moratorium on onshore wind, this webinar will give some case studies – from the past. Community Energy South is running an online webinar groups and local communities to provide inspiration about how to create new onshore wind projects that benefit your local community: Speakers include:
Rural and local communities across England will be supported in setting up local energy projects that will provide local jobs and deliver energy security, thanks to a new £10 million government fund. Both urban and rural communities will have the chance to win a portion of a new £10 million Community Energy Fund – new
We live, work and travel in regions, cites, towns and communities, but energy systems are still very centralised. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme has explored the potential of smart local energy systems and place-based approaches the a £104 million, five-year programme. The programme ended in March 2023, leaving a
The Climate Change and Energy Service at Cambridgeshire County Council is looking to recruit a project manager to work on renewable energy in the community. Starting with the Swaffham Prior Community Heat Network Project, a first village retrofit in the country decarbonising heating and hotwater for homes, you will initially work with the contractors to
This publication “How to get your local clean energy funded” produced by Thrive Renewables provides some good guidance on how to get funding and it includes some good case studies of how local communities set about doing this. They are a renewable energy company and have been working to reduce emissions and tackle the climate
Through its Community Benefit Programme, Thrive Renewables is giving grants of up to £4,500 to cover improvements such as insulation, draught-proofing, LED lighting or improved heating controls to community buildings, like village halls and community centres. 2023 is the seventh year this grant programme has run, and this year a total of £33,000 is available.
This article is for anyone interested in the huge potential of community energy or novel place-based energy systems. It will give an insight into the UK government’s Innovate UK “Prospering from the Energy Revolution” Programme (PFER) highlighting the challenges, how they can be delivered successfully, and what has been learnt from the Programme. PFER programme
Press Release – Tuesday 6 June 2023 Wanted “Community Energy Champions” to develop local Low Carbon Energy Projects across East Cambridgeshire. The East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network (CAN) is looking for “Community Energy Champions” in Ely and from across the whole of East Cambridgeshire to develop their own local community energy projects initiated by LOCAL people and WANTED by
EastCambsCAN are a community group of volunteers that are fighting climate change, promoting zero-carbon living and restoring spaces for wildlife. We are affiliated with Friends of the Earth.
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