Posts by Emily Bullock

DCE have secured a £20k grant to develop solar photovoltaic generation in and around Bridport as prt of our Energy Local Bridport project.

A scheme to increase the supply of renewable energy to people in Bridport has taken a big step forward with a £20,000 grant to Dorset Community Energy.

This solar panel project builds on the success of an initiative launched in January by Dorset Community Energy which aims to supply up to 60 Bridport homes with locally generated renewable energy from a wind turbine. Offering green energy at 9.5p a kWh, the Energy Local Bridport scheme has been heavily oversubscribed and still has 40 households on the waiting list.

Read the full article in the Bridport News here.

June 13th to June 28th was Community Energy Fortnight, which aims to celebrate community energy and to support community energy groups across the country to learn from one another. Bridport News – featured an article about Energy Local Bridport and Dorset Community Energy.

A community group will be celebrated for setting up renewable energy sources across the county over the next two weeks for ‘Community Energy Fortnight’.

June 13 to June 28 is Community Energy Fortnight, aimed at celebrating community energy and helping community energy groups across the country learn from each other.

One such group is Energy Local Bridport, a project to allow local trading of renewable energy and increase the value of the generation, which was set up by Dorset Community Energy (DCE).

Read the full article here.

DCE have just commissioned the solar installation at All Saints School, Weymouth, bringing our installed capacity from our third share offer to 244kW.

Read more

We are currently planning to hold our AGM on 15th September 2020 at 7pm in Blandord Forum.

Unfortunately the progress on our new installations for our 3rd Share Offer has been delayed by a number of factors including the weather and corona virus.

We have however two complete installations: Wey Valley School (photographed) and Blandford School installed in February. These are installed and generating electricity. Installation has also commenced at All Saints school with an expected completion date of end of May.

A full update has been sent to those with shares in our 3rd Share Offer, and there is also an update on our 3rd Share Offer page.

Following a grant awarded from the Power to Change Bright Ideas Fund last October, Dorset Community Energy launched the Energy Local Bridport project in early January in partnership with Energy Local CIC and Octopus Energy. Previously all our projects have been based of supplying renewable electricity to schools and community buildings, but Energy Local Bridport aims to be the first example in England of locally generated renewable electricity supplied to households using the existing grid.

Energy Local Bridport will initially supply wind power from the existing 50kW wind turbine at Salway Ash @ 9.5p/ kWh to 50-60 households in the Western Power Distribution Bridport sub-station area. Octopus Energy provides a backup supply when the wind turbine is not generating sufficient power to meet demand.

The level of interest exceeded expectations with over 90 households completing expressions of interest within 2 weeks of the project launch. A new co-operative, Energy Local Bridport Limited, has been set up representing all householders to enable a contract to be signed with Octopus Energy. However the project is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic as participating households need to have smart meters fitted to enable Octopus Energy to meter the local renewable energy supply and invoice at the lower cost. Smart meter installations are currently on hold until the coronavirus risk is reduced.

Dorset Community Energy is hoping to expand the project by adding 200kW- 400kW of ground mounted solar panels to complement the wind energy generation and allow more households and small businesses to join the scheme and benefit from cheaper local renewable energy generation.

Go to the Energy Local Bridport page.

Dorset Community Energy (DCE) was one of the founder members of the Wessex Community Energy Network (WCEN), set up 2 years ago to enable community energy groups in the Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Bath and Bristol areas to meet up to share experience. 

Currently DCE’s Finance Director Henry Lovegrove, and Secretary Pete West are supporting WCEN, with the network managed by volunteers. But DCE has recently secured a grant from The Naturesave Trust, which will enable the WCEN to employ professional help to upgrade and maintain their website, and provide training for volunteer members. This will enhance ability to share information on community energy between the 21 WCEN member organisations and the wider public.

The Naturesave Trust is funded by the activities of Naturesave Insurance, the UK’s leading ethical insurance provider for individuals, businesses, charities and community groups.