The community energy movement is giving power to local people, generating power and energy so local communities can create a sustainable future for the next generation.
SSE believes a healthy and growing community energy sector matters. Arguably, it could be seen as a competitor to big energy companies.
Distributed electricity generation – owned and operated by communities - is effectively a new entrant into the energy market.
Some may even see it as a threat to a centralised energy system.
But we at SSE don’t see it like that.
As the largest generator of renewable energy in the UK we strive to be a responsible developer.
Throughout our work over many years, we know local people can be very engaged about the way in which their energy is generated.
They have opinions on where developments are located, the way they are designed, the impact on their local economy, on wildlife and on jobs.
But we have also come across communities who want to have more than just a say in other peoples’ developments – they want to see if they can do it for themselves.
We are committed to supporting them and there are two exciting routes SSE is pursuing.
In Bath we’ve created a financial model to provide a £1million commercial loan over 15 years to help them invest in solar projects. Following its success, and with limited lending facilities from banks, we’re now looking for similar communities to work with again.
Another important venture for SSE is a community co-investment scheme. We’ve been approached by a group in North Sutherland wishing to invest in our proposed Strathy South wind farm development.
Following a successful project on Orkney Islands, where the local community bought into a share of a repowering project, we are now in negotiations with Melness and Tongue Community to create a similar arrangement. They’ll act as an umbrella for other communities in the area, buying up to 10% of the capital value.
There are a number of hurdles still but the principle has been set – where we have new wind farms up, we will be open to approaches from local communities for co-investment.
We know there are things communities can do that neither government’s nor big companies can do. Community level energy brings a deeper connection between consumption and supply - it brings energy closer to local people.
To take carbon out of the energy system, keep the lights on and make sure the benefits are shared more widely, community energy can make an impact.
I am in no doubt, that a flourishing community energy movement – with all the diversity that it brings will help make the country more sustainable.