Community energy in rural landscapes
De-centralised energy within rural communities
Cities, Combined Authorities and local leaders have identified several barriers in delivering Net Zero at a local level. Rural authorities also face unique challenges and as powers are devolved and maybe funding becomes available, there is a danger that larger authorities move ahead, leaving the smaller ones behind. Particularly the case for rural areas that tend to be neglected in policy-terms. In this blog, Daniel O’Connell from Birch Vale CIC, sets out the case for decarbonising energy systems within rural communities alongside their urban and city region counterparts.
Just over 60% of England’s renewable energy generating capacity (16,555 WM) is located in predominately rural areas. Yet due to low levels of community ownership, benefits of these assets tend to go to shareholders. If the UK is to rapidly reduce its carbon footprint and achieve its net zero target, how can rural areas, which host more than a sixth of England’s population and which cover most of its land area, do more?
Community energy, is playing a crucial role in achieving net zero by gaining consent, increasing participation and embedding behaviour change. Research published this week in the Community Energy State of the Sector 2021 report, produced by advocate bodies for Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England shows relative strength in the sector, despite calls for much needed additional support from policymakers and regulators.
Community energy is uniquely placed to help reach local and national net zero targets whilst keeping important social issues at the heart of the energy transition.
The 424 community energy organisations mentioned in the report are the key link between the seemingly inaccessible world of the energy system and people using energy in their everyday lives. As elemental, democratic organisations, community energy organisations are trusted and recognised in their local area as prioritising the wellbeing of their community, and can therefore achieve public consent for change faster, fairer and more effectively than it otherwise would be.
The complex and sometimes sensitive aspects of local energy systems can benefit from analysis at a relevant spatial scale. Local knowledge and connections allow for Locational based considerations to be assessed when planning renewable energy systems. Solutions that integrate social considerations into traditional technological and economic assessments help define more complex systems where technologies such as hydro, anaerobic digestion, heat pumps, biomass etc. can be assessed alongside solar PV and onshore wind. New forms of distribution system can be considered such as heat networks or private wires that provide an effective conduit between local supply and demand, and new innovative and much more relevant market models can be assessed.
Many rural places have lost out, not least in terms of employment opportunities, key service provision, transport networks and affordable housing. Too often rural areas have been overlooked by policies which targeted large urban centres. On many policy agendas, rural areas are handicapped by public funding allocations that work against them.
Birch Vale CIC aims to redress the balance; building on the strong foundations from innovative, local projects such as Torrs Hydro, Sustainable Hayfield and Cromford Mill. We are taking inspiration from these great schemes and assessing several low impact technologies that may provide clean, affordable energy to buildings in Birch Vale. We are also looking at two additional schemes “Keep Warm – Stay Well” and transport through the High Peak region.
There are obviously distinct challenges; designing systems within this unique landscape requires a significant level of sensitivity and consideration to be paid to the close relationship of landscape and nature with the social system and local context. However, the Peak sub regional report on climate change (2009) quantified the potential to generate 40 GWh/yr of clean energy in High Peak from low impact sources yet despite several innovate projects there seems a long way to go.
Despite the challenges that arise from the decarbonisation agenda there are significant opportunities that come from community energy projects; new opportunities for community enterprise and growth sectors in the green economy. The social benefits are also strong. Volunteerism has played a crucial role throughout the pandemic, in the absence of this support we would have found this past year even more challenging. As the “Build Back Better” campaign gains momentum It has shown us that there is a significant opportunity to achieve a more sustainable and community-friendly future.
We’re therefore urging local members, policymakers and the wider community to look afresh at the potential for community energy and the many benefits it can bring to the region.
Birch Vale CIC is a volunteer led, non-profit organisation. For more information: https://www.bvce.co.uk
