- Community energy fortnight has officially launched!
- Energy Local Bridport & the switch to a new supplier: 100 Green
- School workshops with Dorset Community Energy
- P441 modification & other community energy news
- New interactive map for exploring our Rooftop Solar Sites
Updates & Opportunities
Community Energy Fortnight has officially launched, kicking off two weeks of events from 1-14 July with activities and inspiring stories that celebrate the growing power of community-led energy across the UK. Communities, local organisations and supporters across the UK will showcase how community energy strengthens local economies, reduces energy costs, gives people greater control over the energy they use and tackles the climate crisis.
This year’s Fortnight comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. The Government’s commitment to invest £1 billion through the Local Power Plan marks a historic opportunity for community energy. The Fortnight reflects growing recognition that place-based approaches are essential to tackling climate change.
Energy Local Bridport: Switch to 100 Green
Energy Local Bridport was set up by Dorset Community Energy in 2019 as England’s first scheme enabling householders to buy locally generated renewable electricity through the existing grid.
After an initial Covid-related delay the project has now operated successfully for almost five years. Electricity comes from a 50kW wind turbine in Salway Ash connected to the Bridport primary substation, with wind power supplied to members at 15p/kWh. Energy Local CIC negotiated an innovative agreement with Octopus Energy combining locally priced winder power with lower cost off-peak grid electricity when wind generation is insufficient.
Octopus ended support for Energy Local Clubs in March. However, confidence in local electricity markets is steadily growing, with 100 Green stepping to take over the supply arrangement. Around two-thirds of the club’s 58 members have made the switch to 100 green and remain on the Energy Local tariff.
Members currently pay about 20p/kWh for combined wind and grid electricity, compared with typical standard tariffs of around 25p/kWh — a saving of roughly 20%.
Help us find a possible new wind turbine site
Dorset Community Energy has received a grant to explore the feasibility of a new Energy Local Club. We are calling for members and supporters of DCE to help us identify possible wind turbine sites. If you know of any landowners and farmers who would be interested, please do get in touch with jamie@dorsetcommunityenergy.org.uk.
School workshops with Dorset Community Energy!
Over the last month, DCE staff have been busy running practical workshops at local primary schools in Dorset, teaching children how simple circuits work, what electricity is, how it is used and how it can be generated sustainably from wind and sunlight. If you are interested in booking a school workshop with us, please get in touch with info@dorsetcommunityenergy.org.uk.
Community Energy News
What is the P441 modification and why does it matter?
P441 is a proposed change to electricity market rules that would make local energy sharing schemes easier to run and properly recognised within the system.
It would allow electricity generated locally (for example from solar panels on a community building) to be matched directly with electricity used locally, providing both are connected to the same primary substation. At the moment, the electricity market is mainly designed around a national system, where power is treated as coming from and going to the grid. This makes local energy sharing schemes complicated to set up and operate.
P441 aims to address this by creating a clearer framework for certain types of community energy arrangements, so that local generation and local use can be accounted for together. This could help community energy projects, such as Energy Local Bridport, become easier to develop and scale. P441 is currently being reviewed by Ofgem, who will make their final decision later this year.
Solar Spotlight
In our Solar Spotlight series, we’re looking back at some of our previous installations and the impact they’ve had – from electricity generated to carbon saved and community benefits delivered.
Oakdale Junior School, Poole
Over the last year, we estimate that this installation has:
- Generated 40,143 kWh of solar energy
- Saved approximately £3,260 in electricity costs*
- Avoided around 8 tonnes of CO₂ emissions
- Equivalent to 350 trees absorbing carbon for a year
- Enough to power around 14 average UK homes for a year
*(based on amount of generated solar energy used on site and the school’s estimated import unit rate)