An introduction to Community Energy
Community energy is an overarching term which covers a broad scope of potential projects. These may include:
- development of energy projects at scales from individual domestic installations to community wide networks which generate either heat or power or both to meet the energy needs of a community;
- setting up purchasing agreements with suppliers to provide cost-effective installation of technologies for community networks;
- projects at community facilities (schools or information centres) by local authorities.
Community energy is an area in which expertise and practices are continually evolving. This is reflected by the spectrum of language used to describe its ideas and processes. There are many terms which you may come across that are often associated with community energy, our glossary provides a helpful tool for cutting through the terminology. Key terms include: distributed energy, renewable energy, community heat and power (CHP), decentralised energy, district heating systems, and distributed heat markets.
Follow the links below to learn more about community energy, national policy and the drivers for local action.
Benefits of Community Energy:
Many community groups are working together to find sustainable energy solutions for the residents in their area. Schools, local businesses and all manner of community groups are investing in energy related opportunities and technologies. They are forging links between different facets of society and across a variety of locations. These local groups are recognising the many benefits of community energy, including:
- a sense of ownership and control over their own energy future
- the opportunity to generate their own electricity
- reduced heating costs when they replace electric or oil based heating
- reduced electricity costs for example when community heating is generated with ‘combined heat and power’ (CHP) technology
- more space in each dwelling with communal heating, since the boiler and hot water cylinder is replaced by a compact unit which can then heat a whole building
- the opportunity to outsource the provision of energy services to a specialist and reduce maintenance costs
- flexibility to use a variety of complementary technologies in the same building
- greater overall energy efficiency and therefore reduced carbon dioxide emissions (particularly if CHP or renewable fuels are used)
Summary of Community Energy process
The process of delivering a Community Energy project can be considered in terms of the five distinct stages below. All projects s are different, so you may wish to approach these subjects in your own way. This site allows you to skip ahead to any of the later stages depending on the current status of your own energy project and the type of information you are seeking.
Page last modified: 16/01/2012 15:25:23