To round off 2024, we bring you news of our campaign work, an unusual side benefit of a solar array in Wiltshire, and more...
Energy Local out and about: advisor training in Wiltshire
Our operations director Amy has this month delivered advisor training in Wiltshire for an upcoming Energy Local Club in Tisbury. They will be launching with 250kW of solar on a chicken farm. We hear the chickens are very much enjoying the protection provided by the solar array against the weather and attacking birds!
The advisor training provides the resources and step-by-step process you need to launch a club and is followed up with ongoing support until your club launches.
If you're interested in setting up an Energy Local Club in your area, please join us on one of our intro calls on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6.30pm, and the 1st Wednesday of each month at 10am. You can sign up here.
In memory of Phil Thomas, Energy Local Crickhowell
We were so sorry to hear of the sudden and unexpected passing on 6th December of Phil Thomas, who was a director of Energy Local CrickHowell in south Wales.
Phil was a linchpin of EL Crickhowell and the Llangattock Green Valleys CIC. He was a pillar of the community more widely, working as a volunteer litter picker, a helper at the local foodbank, and as flood warden.
His fellow EL directors said “Phil was the kindest, most considerate, and most compassionate person you could ever hope to meet. It says everything about Phil that on the day he passed away, he was delivering sandbags around Llangattock in his role as Flood Warden, ahead of [Storm Darragh].”
Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his wife Maggie and their family and friends.
Consultations: highlighting local energy markets
As part of our passion for rolling out the benefits of local energy markets, we’re constantly working to improve the UK’s approach.
In November we responded to the Ofgem consultation on “Innovation in the energy retail market”, calling on them to expand “the potential of local energy markets” to enable more community generation, tackle fuel poverty and accelerate district heat networks. We also called for licensed suppliers to be mandated to provide services to local energy markets.
We’re also responding to a call for evidence from the Commons Select Committee on Energy Security and Net Zero regarding “Unlocking community energy at scale”, which is open for submissions until 13 January 2025.
Again, we’re highlighting the potential of local energy markets and how integrated “whole systems” - combining heat networks, renewable electricity and local trading – can support the UK’s essential transition to net zero.
Energy Local North Oxfordshire launches
Congratulations to the team at Hook Norton Low Carbon Ltd (HNLC), who are off the blocks with Energy Local Club North Oxfordshire, based in Hook Norton and Sibfords area.
They are in the process of setting up the club, with a grant from the Community Energy Fund, which will use locally generated solar energy from a 1000kw installation. They are now gathering details of people who'd like to join. The club's supplier will be 100Green.
Thanks to all those involved for their hard work so far.
Spotlight on: Acocks Greener
In 2025, we’re looking forward to welcoming on board our second-ever Energy Local Club in an urban area. (The first was in Brixton, London – you can hear more in this TedX talk).
Acocks Greener CIC is working with the communities of Tyseley & Hay Mills and Acocks Green (based in Birmingham) to develop a club around solar PV generation, called the South-East Birmingham Energy Local Club. It’s expected to start in February 2025, anchored by the solar PV on Fox Hollies Forum (holder of Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service).
It’s just one of the ways Acocks Greener is working on Net Zero and preparing for climate change.
Their work has included helping hundreds of households to receive Green Home Retrofit Grants; setting up an e-car share club; and acting as a “living lab” in which organisations can try out new ideas and products.
As part of this “living lab” ambition, they’re seeking funds to work with schools and youth groups so that young people can build their own Home Environmental Monitoring Station to measure energy use and air quality in their home.
Acocks Greener also hope they can act as a pilot for bi-directional EV chargers and other energy batteries.
Their overall goal is to provide a model for other urban and suburban areas, with local energy trading through their Energy Local Club as part of their mission.
Save on cooking energy with a Haybox cooker
Tis the season to pay extra attention to the smart meter – and explore old-school ideas for saving energy which also reduce carbon emissions.
Christopher Blomeley of Community Energy Colchester has been in touch to highlight this Youtube demo, where he cooks a meal for four in a “Haybox cooker”.
This method of cooking liquid-based food like soup or stew is thought to date back to the 19th century, and enjoyed popularity in World War II as a way of conserving fuel.
It involves heating the pot for a few minutes on gas or electric, and then placing it inside an insulated box. This traps the heat so the food cooks itself for another 2-3 hours – although check for yourself the food is cooked through.
Traditionally hay was used to keep the heat in, but you can create a haybox cooker with a plastic box with a lid, and some foil wrap and insulation.
Please note that Energy Local does not endorse or verify the credentials of individual energy advisers.
Every 2nd Monday of the month we hold a drop-in session at 2pm for officials, advisors, and any interested club members or upcoming club organisers. Send us an email if you would like to join the call.
We also hold regular introductory calls for anyone interested in
setting up a club - the details for these can be found on the Energy Local website.