The problem
Right now, renewable generators sell their power per unit (KWh) to suppliers, and people living nearby buy that electricity back for two or three times that price. Why? Because there is no way to show that people are using power when local renewables are generating and no means of rewarding matching power use to local generation. This means local clean power generators cannot receive a fair price for the power they generate that reflects its true value.
With the arrival of smart meters and Energy Local Clubs we can change this! This could make thousands of more generators viable, create new green jobs, reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
The solution
Energy Local has designed a local market in power via Energy Local Clubs. This enables households to club together to show when they are using local clean power when it is generated. The scheme gives generators a price for the power they produce, that reflects its true value, keeps more money local and reduces household electricity bills.
Our first Energy Local Club started in a small town called Bethesda, in North Wales back in 2016. We are using the tools, systems, and know-how developed to create dozens of more schemes across the UK. We’re working with the support of a number of key partners and funders.
If you are a household or a potential generator and you’re interested in being part of Energy Local, please register here, we’ll be in touch.
How does Energy Local work?
- Households and small scale renewable generators as members form an Energy Local Club (ELC) -legally a Coop.
- Households have smart energy meters installed to show when and how much power they were using.
- Members (households and generators) agree a price (“match tariff”) that will be paid to the generator when they match their electricity use to when electricity is generated locally, for example, turning their washing machine on when they know the local Hydro scheme is working at full pelt.
- The Club chooses a partner energy supplier (such as Octopus Energy) that sells the extra power they need when there is not enough local electricity generated. The supplier sends each household the bill for their total power use.
Members of the Energy Local Team