A guest article by Chris Hannon, Transition Town Shoreham
We’re using more energy than ever, and we will need more. The National Grid is anticipating an increase in electricity demand of 50% by 2035. There’s a mix of factors driving this, such as energy-hungry new tech like AI, the transition to a low-carbon economy (EV cars, heat pumps) and the need for energy security as a nation in uncertain geopolitical times.
Community-led energy energy schemes that are not-for-profit have spread across the UK, producing in 2024 enough energy to power 230,000 homes and supporting almost 800 jobs. Typically these schemes will develop a renewable project, a rooftop solar on an industrial unit for example, and raise funds through a community share offer to pay for the solar panels and the installation. This money is then paid back to the shareholders over time (with a bank-beating interest payment).
Instead of going to a large corporation, the additional profits earned through generating that energy go into a community fund instead, which can act as a funding mechanism to support local projects. The building owner/occupier benefits from clean energy at a much-reduced rate to market without having to pay any up-front capital costs and is eventually gifted the solar equipment to get free energy for the final years of the solar panel lifespan. If the community can bring together the right partners, everybody benefits.
In Sussex, there are at least five community energy co-operatives doing amazing work through this type of model. In Shoreham, examples of using a community energy model with rooftop solar have already been successful in Shoreham Port. So where else and how could this happen in Shoreham?
Our Future Energy Landscape?
The Shoreham Society and Transition Town Shoreham are delighted to host the energy co-operative, Energise South Downs, for a workshop, “How might Shoreham-by-Sea power its community using locally produced renewable energy?”, taking place on 21 November. It forms part of ten Future Energy Landscapes workshops that Energise South Downs is running across the south-east. Using a tried and tested model from Centre for Sustainable Energy, the workshop aims to discover the types and scale of renewable energy that could meet the needs of local people.
The workshop will be a unique opportunity to tap into the expertise and experience of Energise South Downs, to learn and explore what possibilities community energy might have in Shoreham-by-Sea.
The Future Energy Landscapes workshop will be on Friday 21 November at 7pm in St. Peter’s Church Hall, West Street, Shoreham, BN43 5DJ.
Visit their website, esd.energy, to find out more about Energise South Downs.
