We Won a National Lottery Community Fund Grant!
Energy Local CIC has successfully applied for a grant of £400,000 to expand and roll our model out across Britain! The fund will support our project over the next three years, allowing community customers to create a local energy market for nearby renewable energy schemes. This benefits the community’s economy and helps households reduce their power bills during these unprecedented times, whilst decarbonising our power system.
For more details and a brief overview of our mission, you can read the press release here.
The National Lottery Community Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/
Our Project So Far:
Since founding in 2014, with our pioneering Club in Bethesda, Energy Local has grown considerably with several Clubs now all over Wales and Britain. These Clubs provide cheaper, green power to their communities through a range of renewables. Below is our list of all operating Clubs and their generation:
In the pipeline, we also have other Clubs currently in development. These include: Totnes, Killington, a second Club in Corwen, Duddon Valley, and others to coming soon. A very special thanks to all involved with Energy Local project!
Welcome to Our Newest Members
Over the past few months, we have had many Clubs welcome new members. Llandysul saw more households go Live in April. Corwen and Capel Dewi had more members join their Energy Local Clubs. And just this month Bridport and Dyffryn Banw welcomed their latest members to their Clubs too.
Club spotlight: Energy Local Bridport – Meet the Team!
Greetings from the South coast of England! From left to right are the Directors of Energy Local Bridport:
Producer Director, Peter Bailey (Owner of the wind turbine). Consumer Directors – Richard Toft, Debbie Bond, Pete West, and, not pictured, Martin Biss.
The generation for Energy Local Bridport comes from Peter’s 50kw wind turbine in the village of Salway Ash. Peter installed the turbine in 2012 and always wanted the local community to benefit from the power he generated.
In 2019, Pete West began conversations with Energy Local. And after delays with getting the Club started – covid, technical setbacks and a long wait for turbine parts – the Club started trading in September 2021.
There are now 26 households enjoying the benefits of on-shore wind, with more being added over the coming months up to a maximum of 55.
On windy days, the turbine generation can exceed the Club demand and members can match all their electricity use to the wind generation. This is balanced out by periods when there is little wind, but overall members are seeing savings in their monthly bills.
The Directors come from a range of backgrounds and between them have many links into the community through business, farming, education, environmental projects and community energy.
The Directors are looking forward to expanding the Club to its full potential, with half an eye on possible spin-off projects. Watch this space!