Ralph Watts DCE’s Technical Director (currently handing over to Geoff Joy) is one of the speakers at this event along with writer Chris Goodall, Dorset residents Poppy Maltby and Prof Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti. The event is listed as:

Exploring the opportunities and challenges for energy security and net zero. The format will be informal and conversational with plenty of time for questions. We guarantee a very lively debate! Guest speakers are experts in the field of energy generation, energy security, climate change and how we can realistically achieve net zero.

Further details and booking information

This year our AGM will be held via zoom on the 19 July at 19:00. All members have been invited by email and sent a link. Non-members are welcome to attend the AGM but will be unable to vote. In addition to the business of the AGM, the meeting will include an updates on: Dottery PV project, Energy Local Bridport, Community Fund.

The agenda and relevant papers are available to view at: Members – Dorset Community Energy

If you wish to attend please contact lucy@dorsetcommunityenergy.org.uk

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.

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 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.

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.   

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!