This year’s AGM will be held in Bridport on Tuesday 17th July at 7pm, venue to be confirmed. The papers will be sent to members electronically at least three weeks in advance of the meeting. Please save the date and come along.
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Making a simple solar-powered model – video
Pete West, Dorset Community Energy secretary and a volunteer helping with educational activities, has produced a short video to demonstrate how to make a spinning paper plate solar model, which has proved popular with children of primary school age.
The video can be viewed on YouTube at this link https://youtu.be/sHzHEC_SyIc
2017 Solar generation – 5% up on predictions.
In 2017, DCE’s 420kW of installed solar photovoltaic capacity generated 423,000 kWh of electricity, that’s 5% higher than predicted, which 
is likely to mean that members will benefit from 5.5% interest on their investment again this year.
Have you ever wondered why people talk about kilowatts peak when they are talking about solar photovoltaic panels? Or perhaps your friends mock your investment in solar energy, because solar panels are only 15% efficient?
Well here is the answer!
Continue reading “2017 Solar generation – 5% up on predictions.”
Interest payments to members in early September
Following acceptance of the Dorset Community Energy Annual Accounts at the AGM held on 12th July and approval of the directors’ recommendation to pay members 5.5% interest, payments to members were completed by 9th September. The directors are optimistic that the target 5%-6% p.a. interest on members’ shares will be maintained in future years, subject to no unforeseen circumstances.
Educational activities – connecting the climate.
Dorset Community Energy secretary, Pete West, and Dorset County Council’s Sustainable Schools Project Officer, Alison Jay, met with local educational charity Development Education in Dorset (DEED) in July to develop a sustainable energy and climate change funding application to the Scottish Power Foundation. The project was named ‘Climate Connections’ and is based on sharing information on climate change and sustainable energy solutions between schools in Africa and in Dorset. DEED was set up in 1983 as a centre for global education and learning. They have worked with over 1000 teachers and 350 pupils in Dorset and Hampshire over the last year and have extensive experience of teacher training.
Continue reading “Educational activities – connecting the climate.”
International co-operation
Following the Paris Climate Agreement, evidence of rising global CO2 emissions and impacts of climate change, it is widely becoming accepted that ‘we are all in this together’. In February the directors agreed that Dorset Community Energy joins the International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE), an NGO network which was established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and currently has 75 member organisations in 35 European countries and 180 member organisations globally.
Survey: how does public engage with renewable energy?
We are happy to share Tom’s undergraduate research survey and encourage you to take ten minutes to complete it.
… I am researching how the public engage with renewable energy. Specifically, I am interested in two activities: investing in Community Energy, and purchasing ‘green’ renewable energy tariffs at home…
Dorset Community Energy – 2017 AGM
The AGM was held on 12th July 2017 at the Wessex Royale Hotel in Dorchester. It was chaired by Tom Burnett, as Tim Crabtree was unable to attend due to work commitments. There were 14 members present including directors.
Pete West presented a director’s report: DCE now have 16 completed roof mounted solar installations totalling 420kW capacity, which have generated 550,000kWh to date. These installations are providing an annual community benefit of £30,000 in reduced electricity bills to the buildings with solar panels installed and an annual income of approximately £60,000 used to repay members capital and interest, insurance, maintenance and administration costs.
At the AGM, members voted to pay 5.5% interest to shareholders, this will be paid by 9th September. Members also agreed the accounts, and re-elected Derek Moss and Henry Lovegrove as directors. Jenny Shackleford stepped down as director due to other commitments and was thanked for her contribution.
Following the AGM – Alison Jay shared updated members on educational activities, and Emily Bullock shared the DCE website.
2017 AGM
The 2017 AGM was held on 12th July 2017 – the minutes are available on the Members Page.
AGM – 12th July 7pm at Wessex Royale Hotel, Dorchester
This year’s AGM will be held between 7pm and 8:30pm at the Wessex Royale Hotel in Dorchester.
Members should have received the papers by email. If you have not please get in touch via the Contact Form