Community Energy

Anna EagarCommunity Energy Direct

IntroductionCommunity Energy Direct

Aims & Objectives

To champion Community Power ProgrammesTo provide ongoing support for Community Power

Cooperatives:• acting as a focal point for community groups who wish to

organise themselves collectively to reduce energy demand• enabling communities to collectively own and operate

renewable or alternative energy assets

Community Energy Direct

Community Power?The Community Power model is intended to empower communities to respond to:

The rising cost of energyThe transition to the low carbon economy

By coming together and taking control of their energy use, energy data and energy assets.

Community Energy Direct Community Power Pilots?

Stage 1:

Provide ‘that place’ where communities can:• Discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with reducing fossil

fuel reliance

• Understand the benefits of the Feed in Tariff/ Renewable Heat Incentive / CERT and Smart Metering roll out (Green Deal)

• Recognise the challenges of fuel poverty (see Annex 1)

Community Energy Direct Community Power Pilots?

Stage 2:

Smooth peak demand and reduce overall demand (using Smart Meters and home energy advice

Community Energy Direct Community Power Pilots?

Stage 3:

Negotiate a collective tariff closer to wholesale market rates (using smart meter data to enable energy performance contracting).

Community Energy Direct Community Power Pilots?

Stage 4:

Further reduce reliance on national grid – gas and electricity (installing community scale renewables and micro – generation).

Community Energy Direct Why a cooperative ?

A recognised and proven mechanism for people to work together; collectively, within communities, for a common need.

Emerges within communities (bottom up), not imposed Ownership and governance arrangements consistent with maintaining

“community control” Democratic ownership (one member one vote) Everybody has the right to information, voice and representation Elected representatives Allows different organisational culture, more likely to reflect local

requirements/aspirations Creates a different relationship with users / customers and producers

Community Energy Direct Community Power Structures

Community Energy Direct Fuel Poverty

The SHCS Key Findings 2008 report found that there were 618,000 households (26.5%) in Scotland living in fuel poverty in 2008. However, the Scottish House Condition Survey Team, in its Estimate of fuel poor households in Scotland report [March 2008], calculated that for every 1% increase in fuel prices, roughly 8,000 more households would become fuel poor. Since 2003 there have been steep price rises for gas, electricity, coal and oil, bringing the estimated figure for the number of Scottish households in fuel poverty in 2009 to around 800,000.(from Energy Action Scotland)

Project Discovery (Ofgem) projects an increase of 60% in fuel bills by 2016.

Annex 1

Contact

Anna Eagar

a.eagar@btinternet.com07946642383