Explore the Future of Community Energy

Exeter Community Energy and The University of Exeter are working together to put on an event about community energy at 6.30pm on Wednesday 2 September.

The Future of Community Energy will take place at The Meeting Room, Stephens & Scown Solicitors, Southernhay and plays host to an impressive range of community groups, academics, industry insiders, public sector officers and international experts from the energy industry.

Community Energy is a national movement to, amongst other things, enable local people to generate their own renewable energy and in doing so create a community income that can be used for local projects. Recent changes in government policy have intensified the challenges for such projects, although communities continue to find innovative ways to change the way they produce and use energy.

The event is open to anyone who has an interest in the way energy is produced and used in their community and will be hosted as an open forum where everyone present can take part in a collaborative conversation.

Exeter Community Energy are currently developing plans to install solar panels on roofs at Wonford Community and Learning Centre, Shillingford Organics and Exeter College. The panels will be paid for and owned by local people, deliver low-cost electricity to the buildings and create a community fund potentially worth over £100,000. Negotiations are ongoing with several other organisations including DSFRS, Unison and Pipers Farm.

They are looking for more roofs to be a part of this project – and they are not alone. Similar groups from across the southwest, some with a successful track record and some in their early stages, will be attending the event to share their experiences, learn from each other and listen to the expert advice on offer – not to mention the invaluable input of local people.

As well as solar power there will be an opportunity to explore other renewable technologies such as wind, hydropower, renewable heat and even the possibility of a localised energy market where more and more of the energy we use is local and clean.

For more information you can contact info@ecoe.org.uk or visit www.ecoe.org.uk to view a short film about Exeter Community Energy’s project.