East Suffolk Council is delighted to announce the launch of a new community energy programme.
East Suffolk's Community Energy Programme will support delivery of community-owned and led renewable energy projects – empowering communities to take control of their energy future and contribute to a more sustainable energy system, alongside offering local benefits.
Following a competitive bidding process, a consortium led by the Centre for Sustainable Energy has been chosen to deliver the project alongside Community Energy England and Ashden climate change charity.
As well as bringing experience in the community energy space, the three organisations include locally-based partners with a number of connections to existing groups across the district.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy consortium will support existing community groups in East Suffolk, as well as identifying and encouraging new groups through its ‘Future Energy Landscapes’ and ‘Community Energy Go’ pathways.
These will help progress projects through the technical feasibility stage to submitting grant bids and ultimately installing community-owned energy assets.
East Suffolk Council will be working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Community Energy England and Ashden on the next steps for the programme, starting with engaging the existing groups. These will be triaged and provided with tailored support to allow the community energy projects to move forward.
East Suffolk Council is inviting community energy groups to attend a free evening event to celebrate the launch of the programme, at East Suffolk House, Melton, IP12 1RT, from 5.30pm-8.30pm on Friday 29 May. The event will include:
- An introduction to the programme and information on how to get involved
- Practical training on running community energy workshops
- Opportunities to connect with other groups and share ideas
Reserve your free space by visiting the EventBrite webpage.
East Suffolk Council is looking forward to working with the consortium to deliver community energy projects across the district and is encouraging any community organisations in East Suffolk which may be interested in locally-owned and managed energy installations to get in touch via climate.sustainability@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.
Councillor Tom Daly, Cabinet Member for Energy and Climate Change, said: “East Suffolk has become the destination point for huge amounts of nationally significant energy infrastructure.
“As Cabinet Member for Energy and Climate Change, I spend much of my time working with applicants, developers and regulators to lessen the impacts and increase benefits of these projects to our communities and environment. Community Energy is wholly different vision of how we utilise the technological advances now available to us, and the de-carbonisation revolution we find ourselves in. It is a vision putting people and communities at the centre – with ownership, benefits and proceeds accruing directly to the residents of East Suffolk.
“The technology is now available to literally empower our communities to dramatically cut their carbon footprints and significantly reduce energy bills and dependency on irrational energy markets. There is a green way forward for energy and this project will seek to find that path for as many communities as possible across East Suffolk.”
Neil Best, Senior Planner at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, said: “Future Energy Landscapes works because it gives communities genuine agency; the time and space to decide what renewable energy should look like in their area, rather than reacting to plans made for them.
“We're excited to be bringing this approach to East Suffolk in partnership with East Suffolk Council, Community Energy England and Ashden.
“Working alongside CSE's Community Energy Go service, we'll help local people move from that shared vision to real community energy projects with real impact."
Steve Coonick, Community Renewables Manager at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, added: “Community energy projects often stall between inspiration and delivery – and that's exactly the gap Community Energy Go is designed to bridge.
“Working alongside CSE's Future Energy Landscapes programme, we'll help groups across East Suffolk move from a shared local vision to viable plans, with the expert support they need to access funding and get projects off the ground.
“East Suffolk Council is putting communities at the heart of their approach, and we're really pleased to be working alongside them to help make that happen.”
Image shows, from left to right, Matthew Ahluwalia (Ashden), John Taylor (Community Energy England), Cllr Tom Daly (East Suffolk Council), Katie Hickford (East Suffolk Council), Neil Best (Centre for Sustainable Energy) and Steve Coonick (Centre for Sustainable Energy).