Following the success of community owned solar energy projects in Brixton, Brighton, Bath and elsewhere a group of residents is working to set up a not-for-profit solar energy co-operative based in South East London. This will be a cooperatively owned enterprise that generates renewable electricity for use by householders and for sale to the national electricity grid.
The group plans to raise investment from the community to enable them to install solar panels on the large sunny roofs of building providing social housing or community services.Generating clean electricity in this way can potentially provide low cost or free electricity and fund energy efficiency measures whilst also providing a return to investors
The groups invites all those who would like to get involved in setting up the cooperative or who would like to find out more about investing in it or benefiting from it get in touch! These slides are from the first public meeting held on Sunday 9th March 4 – 5.30pm at the Food Bank, 467 New Cross Road.
2. Our Mission
We believe that communities, regardless of financial
resources, should have access to the benefits of
affordable low carbon technologies. We collaborate
with local residents, businesses and organisations to
reduce fuel poverty, and develop financially, socially
and environmentally sustainable projects which
increase energy efficiency, produce local renewable
energy and accelerate the transition to a low carbon
energy generation system
3. Our Aims
• To generate renewable and affordable energy
in SE London that will mitigate climate
change accelerate the transition to zero-
carbon, decentralised, electricity system
• To build an economically sustainable business
model that has a core focus on social
responsibility and affordable energy
provision.
• To provide tangible improvements to the
financial situation of those living in fuel
poverty in SE London.
• To give organisations that provide valued
community services in SE London access to
affordable, renewable energy - thereby
reducing the burden of escalating energy
costs.
4. EnergySE London raise funds from
investors through a Community Share
Offer
These generate solar electricity
This is used to provide free
electricity for school/
community venue
Any surplus electricity is
exported to the national grid
££
How it works
This is used to purchase solar
panels to go on the roofs of our
‘partners’ (schools or community
venues)
A government subsidy known as
the Feed in Tariff is paid to
EnergySE London for every unit of
electricity generated (regardless of
whether it is used by the school/
community venue. An additional
payment is made to every unit
exported to the grid
This is used to repay investors
plus a small dividend, for
maintenance of solar panels and
to create a fund for tackling fuel
poverty in SE London
5. EXAMPLE 1: BRIXTON ENERGY
• Solar panels on many of the roofs of Loughborough Estate
• Raised approx. £180,000 in investment
• Investors received a 3% return on their investment (plus 50% tax relief)
• Profits used to increase the energy efficiency of houses on the estate
through draft busting work and education (people need to spend less to
keep their homes warm)
• Provided young people with skills and paid work experience
opportunities in solar installation
• 60 tonnes of Greenhouse gas emissions avoided
6. • Solar panels on the roofs of 3 community centres in Bristol
• Raised approx. £127,000 in investment from 150 people
• Investors received a 4% return on their investment
• Profits used to increase the energy efficiency work with the community
• 25 tonnes of Greenhouse gas emissions avoided inn the first year
EXAMPLE 2: BRISTOL ENERGY CO-OP
7. • Raised £625,000 in investment
• Put solar panels on the roofs of six schools in Surrey with a combined
generation capacity of 238.09kW.
Each of the Schools gets:
• renewable energy free of charge or heavily discounted to the school
• carbon emissions reduced by about 20 tonnes per year per school
• an educational package to explain and monitor the renewable energy
• generated a surplus of £3,000 for distribution between our six members
schools and total financial benefits for our schools of over £20,000
EXAMPLE 3: WEY VALLEY SOLAR CO-OP
8. Meet the Team of Directors
Dr Giovanna Speciale: Director (The Community Development Expert)
* 14 years experience in the community sector: Worked for ARVAC (The Association for Research in the
Voluntary and Community sector) and ran Community Research Consultancy, managed projects on behalf
of Groundwork London
* Expert in evidence based practice but also a qualified IAP2 Participation Practitioner.
* M.Sc .in Energy Policy for Sustainability at the University of Sussex
Alex Hartley: Director (The Sustainability Professional):
* 14 of experience in managing sustainability initiatives at senior level in business and the third sector.
* Developed programmes to tackle fuel poverty Presented to PRASEG (Parliamentary Renewable And
Sustainable Energy Group) at the House of Commons
* trained facilitator for Carbon Conversations..
Rowan Parkhouse: Dirctor (The Financial Whizz):
* Background in energy-related finance and is currently working as a Commercial Analyst
* MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.
* Experience in financial modelling and forecasting, policy analysis, and operational strategy
9. Sergio Olivares: Director (The Font of all Cooperative Knowledge):
* Sergio has worked in the Third Sector since 1982 focused on developing alternative economic systems and
democratically run enterprises.
* Works for Greenwich CDA:
* Supported many local co-operatives and social enterprises and represented Third Sector interests.
Sylvie Wynn: Director (The PV Techie)
* M.Sc. In Environmental Engineering from Cardiff University
* Worked in the renewable energy industry for the last 6 years,
* Currently an engineer at a solar PV company where she specifies systems, designs products, trains
installers
Camilla Berens: Director (The Communications Expert):
* Journalist has written for The Guardian, The Independent and the New Statesman on issues relating to
climate change and protest movements.
* Taken part in campaign against motorway and aviation expansion. Co-ordinator of the Stop New Nuclear
Alliance, runs Greenpeace’s Greenwich and Lewisham active supporters’ group.
Adam Pope: Director (The Sustainable Buildings Specialist)
* Degree in Architectural Technology.
* Worked in schemes mitigating fuel poverty for the last 7 years. Currently working for a Lewisham Housing
Association as the Sustainable Homes Project Manager.
* Roles include developing sustainable policies, mitigating fuel poverty issues, auditing properties for energy
efficiency and implementing energy efficiency schemes.
10. Progress to Date
• We held a very successful public meeting.
• Formed a management committee
• We developed an organisational mission statement and set of
aims.
• Registered as an IPS for the Benefit of the Community
• GCDA have generously provided office and meeting space
• First partner Mulgrave School in Greenwich
• Developed a model business plan
• Developed a communications strategy and tools
• Developed a fundraising strategy
11. Feasibility Study to assess the generation capacity of your roof
Business Plan
Community Share Offer to raise funds
Contracts with Roof Owners
The Process Going Forward
12. Tender for installers
Training for local people? Installation
Identify New Sites
Pay investors dividends (and possibly arrange for use of profits for Fuel
Poverty work)
14. ‘Added value’ work with Schools
• Currently discussing ‘added value’
work with Mulgrave School. This
would be a grant funded project
tackling fuel poverty amongst
families of pupils identified by the
school
• Briefly discussed ‘solar
apprentice’ work: recruitment of
paid apprentices to help with the
installation
15. The Energy Café Idea
• Based on Wadebridge Renewable Energy
Network (WREN)
• Given a shop by the council staffed by
volunteers
• From here, they provide energy efficiency
and renewable generation advice.
• 1500kWp of solar installed
• 55 RHI installations
• 110 CERT funded loft insulation/cavity wall
installations
• WREN earns commission -> £10,000 fund
generated for community projects
16. Potential partners involvement
• What sits do you have access to that we could
look at for solar or other renewable energy
generation?
• What other partners do you work with that
may find us interesting or useful?
• What networks are you involved with to help
as spread the word as we need sites,
volunteers, supporters & one day investors!
