Overview

Over 200 delegates from the public sector and communities attended the ‘Powering Up North’ community energy conference on the 26th February 2015. The event explored how we can encourage and capitalise on the fast paced growth of the community energy sector throughout the UK, to harness and expand this growth in the North.

Objectives

As part of the day presentations and discussions considered the following:

• Opportunity – exploring the potential for community energy in the North. Highlighting the multiple benefits this can bring, not just lowering carbon, but bringing social change and levering investment into renewable energy infrastructure.
• Challenges – examining the issues and challenges, are they different from the South, if so, how and why?
• Co-operation and networks - the keys to success in community energy are partnerships, collaboration and co-operation.
• Support – working together to make it happen, delivering the full potential of community energy together.

The agenda and presentations from the event can be found below:

Powering Up North Programme

• Powering Up North Programme
• Powering Up North Delegates List

Why now for community energy?:

• Anna Watson, Friends of the Earth
• Amy Cameron, 10:10

The importance & opportunity of community Energy:

• Levering investment – Pure Leapfrog - Adam Marvel – Scaling up, the opportunities for Local Authorities and Registered Providers
• Social investment – Pier 11 C.I.C - James Hallsworth - What does this mean for community energy?
• Social impact – ResPublica – Caroline Julian - How community energy creates social impact and economic opportunities.
• Carbon impact – Carbon Co-op - Jonathan Atkinson - Communities controlling demand reduction and the smart cities agenda

Reviewing the challenges, support and success around the UK

• Challenges faced - Becky Willis - Independent researcher
• Overcoming Challenges - Richard Collins - Sheffield Renewables
• CEE’s manifesto - Emma Bridge - what we need from policy makers
• Growing a Community Energy Network - Ollie Pendered - Communities Matter
• The importance of peer and support networks - Gill Fenna - MORE Renewables
• Community energy and social housing - Mike Kinghan - The example of Chase Community Solar
• Examining the broader benefits of a successful project - Kevin Frea - Halton Lune Hydro
• YIMBY to Wind - When communities say yes to wind - Rachel Lee - HoTT Wind @ Longley Community
• Plymouth Energy Community - Alistair Macpherson
• Distributed Generation and Electricity North West - Mike Taylor - Electricity North West

Realising Transition Pathways Consortium: Research Launch

• Distributing Power, a transition to a civic energy future - Beth Robertson and Victoria Johnson

Keynote Speech

• Community energy: Is the North ready for our energy future - Alan Simpson