The North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub is working with Community Energy South (CES), an organization with a track record of developing models of support for community energy projects, to develop a network of community energy groups across the region and a programme of support to help them deliver successful projects.
Community energy is about people coming together to reduce energy use, purchase, manage and generate low carbon heat and power. Community energy projects are often delivered collectively by a group or organisation with a focus on engagement, local leadership and strong positive outcomes for the local community. Community groups often have distinct, specific localised goals with an overarching benefit of tackling climate change, energy security and making energy affordable.
We know that there is huge potential for community led projects across the North East and Yorkshire looking to reduce energy use, and to purchase, manage and generate low carbon heat and electricity. We also know that there is a wealth of knowledge, skills and enthusiasm embedded in our communities. In order to create an environment where this potential can be fully realised, we want to provide additional co-ordination and support at a regional level.
The NEY Net Zero Hub has commissioned CES to deliver plans for a package of support, tailored to local needs, initially as a pilot scheme to a small number of groups but ultimately as an ongoing, sustainable and locally led programme available to all communities looking to develop local energy projects.
Please read on for more information, including on our questionnaire and upcoming events.
We will be running events, webinars and other activities to help develop a wider community energy network across the region. This will help enable greater co-ordination and shared learning and ensure that local voices are at the heart of the project.
We are looking for groups to work with from July until the end of the year who will receive dedicated project support from CES to progress their projects to the next level. These might be projects in the early stages that need help getting going, or they might be well advanced and need support with specific issues or barriers. If you are interested in taking part in this pilot, please get in touch. If the time is not right for you, don’t worry – we hope that this support will be more widely available after the completion of the pilot.
We are looking for individuals and community representatives to take part in a Steering Group that will be responsible for shaping the support available to communities on an ongoing basis. If you would like to find out more about joining the steering group please get in touch by emailing contact@communityenergysouth.org.
We are looking for your views and feedback and would greatly appreciate if you took 5-10 minutes to complete our survey. This will be crucial in ensuring the support we put in place is tailored to what people need.
The survey can be completed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/C9WGHY5
Please email contact@communityenergysouth.org and ask to be added to our mailing list and hear updates from the project about news, events and other resources as it progresses.
If you have any queries please call Community Energy South on 01273 474162 or email contact@communityenergysouth.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
You can also follow CES on facebook and twitter and sign up to our mailing list by emailing contact@communityenergysouth.org.
The NEY Net Zero Hub is at the centre of the region’s ambitious efforts to drive a low-carbon, clean-growth future. The NEY Hub is one of 5 Net Zero Hubs in England, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and combines six Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Combined Authorities, bringing local authorities, businesses, organisations and communities together to help us achieve our goals. The Hubs are driving the transition to a zero carbon economy with ambitious energy strategy and innovative project delivery.
CES was established in 2013 as an umbrella organisation and regional hub enabling its members (local community energy groups and community organisations) to grow as sustainable low carbon businesses in the South East of England. Since then CES have been asked to rollout their successful Community Energy Pathways programme in multiple local authority areas across the south and east of England. The Net Zero Hub has appointed CES to use their expertise and track record to help us develop a bespoke programme of support alongside local groups, and for the local community energy sector to take the reigns of this support on an ongoing basis once CES’s contract is complete.
All data collected as part of this project will belong to the NEY Net Zero Hub and will not be passed onto any third parties beyond the contact team at Community Energy South and the NEY Net Zero Hub without your permission unless we are permitted or required to do so by law. Your data will be processed in line with the CES Privacy Policy – available on the website: https://www.communityenergysouth.org/s/20200728_Privacy_Policy_CESv1-1.docx
Hosted by Tees Valley Combined Authority, Teesside Airport, St George Way, Darlington, DL2 1LU
