Power for the people
7 community energy groups across Somerset have installed Photo Voltaic solar panels on community buildings, schools and churches.
Nationally there are almost 600 community energy groups helping to create local clean energy generation backed by community investments that also include hydropower, wind and even anaerobic digestion for biogas along with providing community benefit funds to further support energy efficiency and environmental projects.
Community Energy England is the national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping community energy organisations create and implement new projects. It annually surveys the community energy organisations across the country, calculating the amount of clean energy they're generating with community investments and support.
In 2023 a total of 398MW of renewable energy was generated by community energy schemes. Somerset's Community Energy organisations include:
- Avalon Community Energy
- Brendon Energy
- Burnham and Weston Community Energy
- Frome Renewable Energy co-op
- South Somerset Community Energy
- Wedmore Community Power Co-operative
Some installations have been delivered by Bath and West Community Energy.
To find out more, visit communityenergyengland.org.