SE24 recently provided a submission to the ‘Unlocking Community Energy at Scale’ consultation, an inquiry launched by the House of Commons Energy Security & Net Zero committee.
Our evidence made several observations and recommendations:
- We support a Local Electricity Bill that would allow for the local direct sale of co-ops’ energy generation.
- Community Energy funding should be embedded into the mission of GB Energy
- Community energy partnerships with local authorities should be strengthened
- More and bigger CE funds should be administered by local government
- Use carbon offset funds provided by developers
- Provide incentives to diversity in CE funding
- Provide grants for both feasibility studies and capex
- Support ‘Nega-watts’ from efficiency advice, as much as Mega-watts from kit
- Provide a cost-effective mechanism for community energy groups to supply surplus energy to local households
- Remove planning barriers to installing solar panels