A new online ‘matchmaking platform’ for community energy called PowerPaired launched last week with over 100 assets on offer to community energy groups.
In the context of a growing focus on climate change solutions and the UK’s net zero emissions targets, PowerPaired aims to increase the number of community-owned renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the UK – helping to put more energy into community ownership, potentially generate funds for great local causes and tackle the climate crisis.
PowerPaired is led by international sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future and supported by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery and Friends Provident Foundation.
The initiative aims to boost the sector at a time of changes in policy support and following feedback from community energy groups that finding a suitable site with a willing owner is one of the most frequent stumbling blocks to getting a project started.
SP Energy Networks is just one of the asset owners alongside organisations such as Oldham Council, Aster Homes and St Mungo’s Charity. The National Grid has also listed substations as potentially viable sites for hosting community-owned renewables projects.
The online platform is urging the owners of assets such as land and buildings and community energy groups to register on the site so that more community-owned energy projects can get off the ground.
Community energy offers asset owners the chance to host renewable energy and energy saving projects at no upfront cost – whilst bringing down their carbon emissions, potentially saving them money and improving their relationships with local communities.
Alongside matchmaking, the PowerPaired website will signpost users to a range of support tools to assist them, including legal template documents provided by partner Pure Leapfrog and support from agencies such as Community Energy England and regional BEIS funded Energy Hubs.
Pure Leapfrog is also providing information for asset owners about potential structures and models and assisting groups where there is potential for a new business model or specific advice is needed.
Rebecca Lawson, PowerPaired Project Lead at Forum for the Future, said: “We’re delighted that such an amazing array of organisations are already on board for the launch of PowerPaired.
“There are currently over 100 assets from across the country on the platform – from offices and industrial estates to schools, churches, libraries and homeless shelters. Successful projects will help communities take control of their energy, save money and tackle the climate crisis – all at the same time.”
SP Energy Networks’ RIIO-T2 Programme Director, Jim Sutherland, said: “As a business we are heavily focused on preparing our network for the future, and ensuring no vulnerable customers get left behind.
“Community energy schemes are vital to this, so we’re therefore delighted to be participating in the PowerPaired launch to help support local energy projects.
“This latest launch comes at a critical time in our sector; we need to work together to deliver on decarbonisation targets and tackling the climate emergency, and are proud to be a part of enabling the zero carbon communities of tomorrow.”
National Grid’s recently-launched Future Energy Scenarios report depicts four potential pathways for the UK’s energy system over the next 30 years, with one – entitled Community Renewables – set to achieve 80% of the UK’s decarbonisation target. According to the findings, 58% of the UK’s energy could be generated by local communities, if a number of conditions are met.
Community Energy England’s recent report highlighted the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) coming to an end – with details of new export tariffs still being finalised – as one of the reasons why new projects were very thin on the ground in 2018 – the sector’s toughest year yet. PowerPaired aims to provide a much needed boost to the sector.
Will Humpington, Climate Change and Environmental Programmes Advisor at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “I’m delighted that funding raised by players is helping to support PowerPaired.
“This is a hugely innovative and exciting project which is set to make a big difference to communities who would like to generate their own energy.”
To register an asset or to look for one for your local community, go to www.powerpaired.org.
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