Friday 19 December 2014

Community energy makes the headlines

During the development of party manifestos in the run-up to a general election it is always interesting to see what energy policy statements are made by the major political parties.

This week Labour called for a ‘national community energy revolution’, which aims to shift power from the ‘Big Six’ energy companies to the ‘Big Six Thousand’ community energy projects supplying electricity directly to homes. The Shadow Energy Minister Caroline Flint said ‘Community Energy has huge potential for the future of our energy mix’. Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has previously championed Community energy stating that ‘We’re at a turning point in developing true community energy’. We previously wrote about Ed Davey’s comments on this blog. We look forward to seeing how, when or indeed whether community energy plans are acted on, following the 2015 General Election.

Our conference in January discusses how regulations should evolve to allow Community Energy to thrive, and how markets for Community Energy should develop. Speakers include Reg Platt from Ovo Energy, Merlin Hyman from, Regen SW, Christian Inglis from, Innovate UK and a representative from Open Utility. Please follow this link for more information.

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Christmas Lights


Do you have a neighbour who has covered their house in festive fairy lights for Christmas ? Where are they getting the electricity from to power those lights? Here in the Old Cakehouse we are demonstrating a Community Electricity Market and our Christmas tree’s fairy lights are trading directly with our 250 Wpeak solar panel. So our office looks festive at a fraction of the cost of buying from  a “Big Six" (or even small) supplier.

Even as we approach the shortest day our solar panel is currently generating 135 W, which is more than enough for our tiny marketplace.
If you and your neighbour had access to a Community Electricity Market, you could make and sell electricity together, powering and empowering your community, while saving money.
Merry Christmas!