WHAT WE DO
RENEWABLE ENERGY
COMMUNITY OWNED ELECTRICITY GENERATION
We provide the tools and know-how to enable communities to develop and own renewable energy. This could be on their housing blocks, schools, churches or other public buildings. Our projects save money and carbon emissions.
The professional skills and services we provide to facilitate the creation of community energy include:
- Project management
- Technical feasibility
- Financial modelling and business planning
- Planning and consents
- Legal groundwork
- Procurement & contractors
- Infrastructure installation
- Communications and reporting
- Door knocking and surveys
- Coordinating meetings and events
- Setting up of community benefit society which runs the project
- Producing share offer
- Marketing and promotions
- Share offer administration
- Business support – VAT, tax, rates
- Monitoring and metering
Community Fund
Repowering projects generate a Community Fund that ensures profits are locked into the locality of our projects. The income is generated over the life of the project and members have the option of donating their interest to help support local activities. Each energy co-op decides how their community fund is distributed, creating community solutions to local problems.
Funds have been used to:
- Install energy efficiency measures for people living in fuel poverty
- Train volunteers to complete energy audits, saving neighbours energy and money
- Support youth training activities
- Help to develop new energy co-ops
A 100kWp project will deliver up to:
THE BENEFITS
Social benefits
- We strengthen communities by helping them create, own and manage a renewable energy scheme that can last decades.
- Our schemes offer the opportunity to meet new people, build relationships and have fun.
- Our educational services provide valuable skills, training and experience in the growing renewable energy sector. This increases the employability of community members including jobseekers and young people.
- Our fuel poverty services improve the lives of vulnerable local people by reducing energy bills and making their homes warmer.
Financial benefits
- Our renewable energy projects provide investment opportunities with a competitive return of around 3-4% per annum.
- Under our model a ring-fenced cash-fund called a Community Fund is created (see above) and the money is spent within the community.
- Our schemes provide cheap, clean electricity, with discounted energy sold for communal usage.
Environmental benefits
- Our renewable energy schemes generate clean, low-carbon power. This tackles climate change by reducing communities’ carbon footprints.
- Energy efficiency schemes delivered under our fuel poverty services reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
WORK WITH US
We offer a number of ways that councils, site owners, community groups and individuals can work together and support the creation of community owned renewable energy.
For more information on how our projects work, see Our Model, or to explore opportunities for community energy in your community or on your site, please contact Dave Fuller at dave.fuller@repowering.org.uk.
