To watch this event, you can rent or buy the video here.
On 10th November, The Future Economy Network ran the second in their November energy series, titled “Community Energy and Business”. The event was attended by a wide range of attentive early-risers from businesses as well as community energy groups across England, and attendees enjoyed some pre-seminar networking in small break out groups before the event began.
Katherine Piper, Director of The Future Economy Network, welcomed attendees, highlighting the benefits of joining the Network and also sharing updates about The Future Economy Network’s Carbon Neutral Hub in Bristol, Future Leap. Katherine also briefly ran through the plans for The Festival of Sustainable Business.
Edward Langham, Fellow of The Schumacher Institute, introduced how the transition to renewable and decentralised energy is opening up new forms of collaboration between business and community organisations, and the different ways in which these embed societal value in the business model. Using a range of Australian, UK and US examples he gave a picture of emerging patterns of innovation and prerequisites for partnership success.
Will Houghton, Renewable Energy Project Developer at Bristol Energy Cooperative, focused on effective business models for community energy in the post-FiT world. He discussed BEC’s criteria for successful rooftop PV installations, as well as the co-op’s wider-ranging initiatives. These include collaboration with leading businesses across the West of England (Zero West) and new approaches to community microgrids, showing a glimpse into the future of residential and commercial developments (Microgrid Foundry).
Vicky Wakefield-Jarrett, Administrator at Bristol Energy Cooperative, spoke about how as a community benefit society, Bristol Energy Cooperative distribute a proportion of the income of their solar farms through The Megawatt Community Energy Fund, in partnership with Low Carbon Gordano and Quartet Community Foundation. Vicky discussed the rewards and challenges of issuing small grants to help your organisation meet its aims and objectives, including reaching audiences beyond those your business normally engages with.
Alex Lockton, Development Co-ordinator at Bath & West Community Energy introduced BWCE as running a major Community Solar 2020 programme that is seeking sites for community funded solar systems on business and community roofs, and on ground mounted sites in the B&NES and West Wiltshire local authority community areas. Specifically, Alex explained how this scheme works and what businesses need to think about to apply to the scheme. Alex also gave a few highlights on other projects BWCE is involved in including Flex Community and a forthcoming heat education initiative.
During all discussions, the audience were invited to ask questions and take part in the conversation throughout. Multiple attendees made use of the 60 second pitch opportunity, and everyone was then able to network in different groups using facilitated break out rooms, before the event finished. A huge thank you to the speakers and attendees of this event, without which our events calendar would not be possible.
