Ten community buildings in Stroud district now have a clear pathway to installing their own renewable energy generation thanks to a pilot study managed by energy experts Severn Wye.
The profit-for-purpose organisation worked with Transition Stroud, Stroud Area Community Energy Network (SACEN), and climate action groups to identify ten sites that could have potential for a solar PV community energy scheme.
The project was funded by the government’s Community Energy Fund (CEF) – a national grant scheme for communities to develop energy projects that will benefit their local area – delivered in the South West by the South West Net Zero Hub on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The sites – in Cam, Stinchcombe, and Wotton-under-Edge – ranged from sports and youth clubs to community halls.
Community facilities are valued for bringing local people together to access services and take part in all sorts of activities that have physical and mental health benefits. But they often have limited income streams and are particularly vulnerable to fluctuating energy prices, so costs can be hard to manage. Contractors Dulas Ltd carried out pre-feasibility studies on each site to determine their fit for a community energy project.
Severn Wye’s Director of Energy Services, Allison Cawley, said:
‘Community energy schemes can make an important contribution, not just to helping local areas become self-sufficient and generate income, but to reducing the UK’s independence on international gas markets. Thanks to this CEF funding all these sites now know how best to move forward if they choose a renewable future.’
The pre-feasibility studies examined the sites’ potential as donor sites based on factors such as likely ease of obtaining planning approval, size of solar PV array and generation potential, current energy use, ease of connecting to the grid, building specification, and suitability of the roof structure. Though none proved viable to take forward to a full feasibility study, Wotton Town Hall was identified as having potential for community ownership if this could be managed through Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op – a volunteer-led community energy co-op, which finances solar panels on roofs through the issue of community bonds.
Close collaboration among all those involved was particularly important to make sure the learning from the study was widely shared. All the sites now have a bespoke solar report tailored to their building which gives them the information they need to generate their own renewable energy in future.
Sally Thorpe from SACEN said:
‘Stroud district serves over 120,000 people and is made up of many decentralised parishes with local climate action networks. Community owned energy projects are special because they don’t just help our planet – they also directly financially benefit the communities that host and invest in them and democratise access to clean energy. This innovative multi-stakeholder project has created a set of worked examples that can propel forward communities that might be less confident in the practical process of energy generation.’
The study has provided important understanding of the criteria for identifying buildings suitable for a cost-effective community energy scheme, with the option for some to explore potential next steps.
Interested community groups can register as a SACEN Associate Member for free, to connect with community energy projects in the area, get specialist help, and stay informed of new funding opportunities: https://forms.gle/KV2f2j1Xg2kU2vBfA
