Latest news with #communityenergy
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Public share offer set to launch at Shropshire solar farm
A community energy group is set to launch a second public share offer to invest in a solar farm in and Telford Community Energy (STCE) is offering people the chance to invest in clean, green power through a share scheme for Twemlows solar farm. Profits from the farm near Whitchurch have already helped fund village halls, cinemas and more — and this next phase could see £3m generated for good causes across the offer launches on Friday 6 June. STCE took ownership of the 10MW solar farm in December 2023. It said the share offer would enable the public "who care about climate change" to invest their money to tackle the issue said the offer will also allow STCE to pay off some of its loans, adding it will: "strengthen its ownership of the solar farm".Treasurer of STCE, Dave Green, told BBC Radio Shropshire the launch would significantly increase the amount of money the site would generate for community said: "Our target is to raise around £500,000. Securing our community ownership will enable us to distribute around £3m in community benefit over the next 16 years, including setting up new community energy schemes."The Twemlows share offer is not just supporting a cleaner, greener and fairer future, it will directly benefit local community projects for many years to come."The public share offer is being launched at an event at the Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, on Friday between 10:00 BST and 13:00 BST. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Oxford's Osney Lock hydro marks 10 years of green electricity
It is 10 years since Osney Lock Hydro - the first community-owned hydro to be built on the Thames – started generating produces an average of 165MWh of electricity each year, enough to power 60 homes. Solar panels on the roof contribute another facility in Oxford is managed by volunteers with a contractor providing technical of the £690,000 it cost to build the hydro was raised from members of the local community through a series of share offers. All the electricity generated is consumed by the Environment Agency's Osney depot and the community on Osney site is open to the public Friday to Sunday and there are information boards and a digital display explaining how the hydro works. Barbara Hammond, one of the founding directors, said: "The project was initially conceived in 2001 and it's been an incredible journey with amazing contributions from so many people."We believe passionately in the role community energy can play in helping reach net zero."A fish pass, built as part of the project, has allowed fish to move up and down the river at Osney for the first time in 200 garden is managed with wildlife in mind, with a hedge of native UK species, a wild meadow and a flower border which is a feast for bees. Architect David Hammond, a driving force in the original project, designed the powerhouse and garden area. He died in 2023 and is commemorated at the site by an oak Lock Hydro is owned by West Oxford Community Renewables (WOCoRe), a registered society, run for the benefit of the addition to the hydro, WOCoRe operates solar PV arrays on the King's Centre, an Aldi supermarket and Matthew Arnold installations were funded, like the hydro, through community share offers. Money generated from the society's assets is used to promote carbon cutting measures in the local community and to fund nature recovery society has a board of volunteer directors elected by the a registered society, WOCoRe exists for the benefit of the delivers those benefits through generating clean energy, showcasing the potential of community energy, supporting local wildlife, and through grants to local community organisations. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Communities urged to bid for £8m renewable energy fund
Communities across Scotland can now bid for cash to set up renewable energy generation projects after an £8 million fund reopened. The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund supports local communities to install wind turbines and solar panels or develop other types of renewable energy generation, such as hydro, to meet local needs. Successful applicants are also allowed to make money from the project, including by selling excess energy. The fund, which has received £4 million from the UK Government's Great British Energy firm, is part of the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (Cares). The Scottish Government said that since its inception, Cares has advised over 1,300 organisations and provided over £67 million in funding to communities in Scotland, supporting more than 990 projects. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'Scotland is fast becoming a global renewable energy powerhouse, and it is vital that communities share in the benefits from this transition. 'This funding, for stand-alone generation projects, responds to the needs of local groups – has the potential to lever in significant funds for communities. 'It will also play a key role in our delivery of a just transition – supporting a greener, fairer future for Scots. 'It is also welcome that Great British Energy recognise the valuable role that communities play in our green transition and have provided support for the fund – helping to significantly increase the amount of support available to communities – and providing a catalyst for growth within the community energy sector. 'We will continue to work with our partners to grow the community energy sector to ensure that the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland, as well as supporting progress towards net zero.' While UK energy minister Michael Shanks said: 'This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – putting communities in the driving seat of energy generation and making sure people profit. 'Great British Energy wants to kickstart a community energy revolution, empowering our towns and villages to become mini energy producers and reinvest profits back into the local community.' Chris Morris, from Local Energy Scotland, added: 'We're pleased to be building on the success of last year's Community Energy Generation Growth Fund pilot to support more Scottish communities looking to take the next steps in their renewable energy projects and play an active part in the nation's transition to net zero. 'Scottish communities demonstrated an appetite to develop new projects during the pilot phase and ideas taken forward include partnering with local authorities to install solar panels on schools, getting approvals for new solar farms and building wind turbines. Information on how to apply can be found here.
