The Community Fund is currently open to support projects that aim to reduce carbon emissions and or address fuel poverty. They may also include local food, sustainable transport or waste reduction, and any other activity which reduces carbon emissions. The project must be located with the geographical area of the Dorset and BCP councils. The application must be on behalf of a community, self-help or voluntary group, a community enterprise or a charity. Applications should be in the range of £500 to £1500. Please refer to Dorset Community Energy Fund Criteria 2022 and return Application Form electronically or by post by 25th April 2022.
Posts by Emily Bullock
Community Fund 2022 open for applications – mailing
Dorset Community Energy Fund 2022
Dear DCE newsletter subscribers – a special welcome to new subscribers.
In this issue:
- DCE Community Fund – open for applications – apply by 25th April
Best wishes from DCE Directors: Alison, Derek, Emily, Henry, Rose, Tim, and Tom
Community Fund – open for applications – apply by 25th April
The Community Fund is currently open to support projects that aim to reduce carbon emissions and or address fuel poverty. They may also include local food, sustainable transport or waste reduction, and any other activity which reduces carbon emissions. The project must be located with the geographical area of the Dorset and BCP councils. The application must be on behalf of a community; self-help or voluntary group; a community enterprise or a charity. Applications should be in the range of £500 to £1500.
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Welcome to our February 2022 Newsletter
Dear DCE newsletter subscribers – a special welcome to new subscribers.
In this issue:
- DCE seeks new IT support – apply by 4th March
- DCE welcomes: Alison, Rose, Ralph, John and Lucy
- Thanks and farewell to Pete
- Energy Local Bridport is expanding and featuring in the national press
Best wishes from DCE Directors: Alison, Derek, Emily, Henry, Rose, Tim, and Tom
DCE seeks new IT support – please apply by 4th March
Dorset Community Energy needs to engage new IT support to manage our web activities. You may be an existing producer, website builder, designer, developer or agency. We manage most of our updates in-house but require limited external support. Please refer to the Brief on our webpage and send a proposal to info@dorsetcommunityenergyorg.uk by 4th March.
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DCE welcomes: Alison, Rose, Ralph, John and Lucy
DCE welcomes two new Directors: Alison and Rose, who have been co-opted pending formal approval at the AGM, and three new Team Members: Ralph, John and Lucy. Together they bring a vast array of experience to DCE including: community engagement, local energy generation, and technical energy management.
Thanks and farewell to Pete
Pete West, has recently stepped down as Secretary and Director of Dorset Community Energy. Pete has made an immense contribution to the development of renewable energy in Dorset and beyond. He has been part of DCE since it was founded in 2013 and a key player in its success to date. Since 2013 DCE has installed a total of 1500kW of solar arrays on 24 public or community buildings. Annual generation of electricity is now around 760,000kWh and annual CO2 savings around 175,000kg. Pete continues to contribute to local renewable energy as secretary of Energy Local Bridport.
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Energy Local Bridport is expanding and featuring in national press
Energy Local Bridport went live in September 2021 with 14 members . The Club has now started expanding beyond the current 14 households, and has recently featured in the national press.
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DCE seeks IT support – apply by 4th March 22
Dorset Community Energy needs to engage new IT support to manage our web activities. You may be an existing producer, website builder, designer, developer or agency. We manage most of our updates in-house but require limited external support. Please refer to this Brief for further information and send expressions of interest to info@dorsetcommunityenergyorg.uk by 4th March 22.
DCE welcomes: Alison, Rose, Ralph, John and Lucy
DCE welcomes two new Directors: Alison and Rose, who have been co-opted pending formal approval at the AGM, and three new Team Members: Ralph, John and Lucy. Together they bring a vast array of experience to DCE including: community engagement, local energy generation, and technical energy management. Read more about them at: About our Directors and About Our Team.
Thanks and farewell to Pete
Pete West, has recently stepped down as Secretary and Director of Dorset Community Energy. Pete has made an immense contribution to advancing the installation of renewable energy in Dorset and beyond. He has been part of DCE since it was founded in 2013 and a key player in its success to date. Since 2013 DCE has installed a total of 1500kW of solar arrays on 24 public or community buildings. Annual generation of electricity is now around 760,000kWh and annual CO2 savings around 175,000kg. Pete continues to contribute to local renewable energy as secretary of Energy Local Bridport.
Energy Local Bridport is expanding
Our long-awaited Energy Local Bridport Club finally got started back in September 2021. 14
households became the first in England to join an Energy Local Club, and started to get cheap
electricity when the wind turbine at Salway Ash is generating.
The initial 14 have helped to trial the Club systems, including Octopus’ billing system and an online
Dashboard that shows members when cheap power is available. There’s been a lot of learning to do
and some glitches, but most members are seeing savings.
In January 2022 for example, cheap power from the wind turbine accounted for approximately 24%
of the total electricity consumption in the Club, with members paying an average price of 13.4p/kWh
for electricity.
Now that the systems have been tested, we’re ready to start bringing more households into the
Club. Forty-one more households – who signed up back in 2020 – are due to join the Club. The
Energy Local Bridport Co-ordinator Alison is in the process of contacting all those waiting to join. If
you think you are due to join, or if you are unsure, please contact
alison@dorsetcommunityenergy.org.uk
Energy Local Bridport has been set up by Dorset Community Energy, with grant funding from the
Power to Change Community Fund. It is now run but a board of volunteer Directors with help from a
part-time Energy Local Co-ordinator.
Alison and Malc from the project were interviewed on the BBC Radio Solent Breakfast Show on the
13th January. Following this, the story was picked up by some national papers – see the articles in
the Daily Mail Online and The Times!
Welcome to our October 2021 Newsletter
Dear DCE newsletter subscribers – a special welcome to new subscribers.
In this issue:
- DCE seeks Technical Director – apply by 6th November
- DCE Community Fund awards £3,500 to local projects
- Energy Local Bridport is live
- DCE AGM – over 20% of membership represented – slides and minutes available
- DCE reaches 1150kW of installed solar panels
Best wishes from DCE Directors: Derek, Emily, Henry, Pete, Tim, and Tom
DCE seeks Technical Director – please apply by 6th November
An exciting opportunity to join Dorset Community Energy as Technical Director, providing management of the Asset Manager, Project Managers and external consultants. This is a new role, expected to be for 1 – 2 days per week, with remuneration between £25 and £35 per hour depending on experience. Apply by 6th November 2021.
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DCE Community Fund awards £3500 to local projects
We recently awarded funding to six local climate friendly projects. These projects included: installation of energy efficiency measures, awareness raising, reducing food waste, promoting sustainable lifestyles, reducing plastic and climate change education. Geographically they cover several different parts of Dorset.
Energy Local Bridport is live!
Energy Local Bridport went live in September 2021. The Club has started with a ‘mini Club’ of 14 households whilst we check that things are running smoothly. The mini Club has become the first Energy Local Club in England to start operating.
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DCE 5th AGM – over 20% of membership represented
DCE’s fifth AGM was held via Zoom on the 12th July, with 27 attendees and 18 proxy votes received, over 20% of our membership was represented. As well as the formal AGM, there was an update on current projects: to install a further 1100kW of solar panels as part of the PV3; and an update on Energy Local Bridport. One attendee: Sally Cooke said: “Brilliant AGM, I was inspired! What a tonic to hear of all the good things that are going on.”
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DCE reaches 1150kW of installed solar panels
During the summer holidays we installed more solar panels at Weymouth College and Linwood School. These installations were funded through the re-opened 3rd share offer. The remaining site for installation is Sturminster Newton High School where plans are still being finalised. To see where all our solar panels are installed check the Locations page.
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DCE seeks Technical Director
An exciting opportunity to join Dorset Community Energy as Technical Director, providing management of the Asset Manager, Project Managers and external consultants.
This is a new role, expected to be for 1 – 2 days per week, with remuneration between £25 and £35 per hour depending on experience.
Apply by 6th November 2021.
(Employment status is self-employed).
DCE Community Fund awards £3500 to local projects.
The aim of the Community Fund is to support projects that aim to reduce carbon emissions and or address fuel poverty.
The most recent funding round closed in July 2021 and the following awards were made:
- Blandford School – to support the installation of LED lighting in classrooms.
- West Dorset Friends of the Earth – to support events in Bridport during Great Big Green Week
- Lyme Regis Development Trust – supporting transport costs for the Community Fridge and Social Supermarket that diverts food going to waste and uses it to provide nutritious meals for those in need.
- Dorset Climate Action Network – to support the West Dorset Open Eco Homes event.
- West Bay Discovery Centre – to support interactive climate change display
- Plastic Free Bridport – to support a community picnic with no single use plastic.
Keep an eye on our website for updates for future funding rounds.