energising community energy

Graig Fatha is the first consumer-owned wind farm in the UK, with over 900 members being supplied with green, low-cost electricity.

In December 2023, Aldgate Solar Power (ASP) held its final Creative Energy Club of the year and it was a resounding success! The club used art and creativity to make community energy more fun, engaging and inclusive and the results didn’t disappoint.

The event itself was enjoyed by a wide and diverse range of participants. Everyone had the chance to make their own renewable-powered villages out of clay, and afterwards, ASP led a discussion on cooperative values and how they could play a vital role in community energy. In the coming months, ASP is hoping to hire out a private venue, where the final art pieces will be publicly displayed.

Throughout 2023, ASP ran three separate creative energy clubs, with nearly 40 people taking part in creating art and learning about community energy, solar power and the big key players in the energy systems. ASP wanted to think outside the box when developing this club, trying to re-think the culture around energy, by finding experimental ways to make it more engaging to a whole new audience.

Originally, ASP had only planned on running three clubs, but as they were so popular, word spread and spots started to fill up quickly and it quickly became over-subscribed. As a result, we partnered with ASP to extend these projects, to make sure everyone who wanted to get involved got the chance to.

If you are in the local area and you missed out then don’t fear, the Creative Energy Club is also planning to make a return in the Spring so keep your eyes peeled as we will promote it on our events page.

In October 2023, the Pant Memorial Hall, with a little help from the Powering Communities Fund, completed its journey to becoming a fully sustainably powered building, by finishing the installation of 28 solar panels across it's roof. Since the additional panels were installed on the entrance lobby roof, the building now generates enough solar energy to be powered throughout the day, night and support the Tesla power wall bank next to the building.

The Hall is run entirely by volunteers, and by partnering with Younity and being awarded the Powering Communities Fund, it’s enabled improvements that mean it can continue to be the heartbeat of this rural community.

By supporting community groups and delivering gardens and solar projects in London, Energy Garden is taking action against the environmental crisis. With each £1 invested into Energy Garden, it brings a social return worth £11.35.

Being responsible for the equivalent of 33% of Bristol's solar generation, Bristol Energy Cooperative aims to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for the benefit of the local community.