Successful Vicars’ Hall event
All posts by Tom Broughton
Meadow Blue – Meet the Directors
Our land, our energy, our community
Now is the time to invest in the community solar farm at Merston, which is being run by Meadow Blue Community Energy (MBCE), a partnership between Solesco, Lewes-based OVESCO and Mongoose Energy, a Wiltshire-based community energy developer.
Come along to one of these events to find out more:
Chichester: 17th November 4-6pm or 6-8pm at Vicars’ Hall, The Royal Chantry, Cathedral Cloisters, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1PX.
Bognor Regis: 19th November 6-9pm (short presentations at 6, 7 and 8) at Oxfords Bar, 13 High Street, Bognor Regis PO21 1RJ
Check the share offer, to invest now: https://www.ethex.org.uk/MeadowBlue
Closing date for share application is 24 November
We are very excited by this new development, as it comes at a crucial time for solar energy in the UK. This is one of the first in the UK to share a connection to the grid with another commercial developer, and as we see it, the last time to get tax relief (EIS) on any community energy project.
More importantly it establishes MBCE as a local community energy company on our doorstep, Merston sitting between Chichester and Bognor Regis. As a Community Benefit Society, we hope to generate a fund of around £4 million over 25 years for energy efficiency, carbon-reduction and fuel poverty alleviation projects in our community. Much bigger in scale than many roof-top installations, this photovoltaic array provides a reasonable return on investment as well as creating this sizeable community fund.
Our plans for this solar farm extend beyond generating some much needed renewable electricity. We will be increasing the bio-diversity on this agricultural land with wildflower planting. It also provides an opportunity for us to work with various small-holders to explore how we can create a useful additional harvest from the land.
Please consider investing soon as a local investor and share in the success of this venture. Every investor has the same voting rights regardless of size of investment.
Dave and Tom on behalf of Solesco
Solar investment, but perhaps not the one you were expecting!
Exciting news:
Well some great news, with some bad news:
University of Chichester
After 18 months of negotiation and discussions with the University of Chichester over 2 roof-mounted Photovoltaic systems, the business case has become increasingly unfeasible and we have had to draw a line under it. The Government’s proposed aggressive reduction in FIT tariff has caused our preferred installer to go into liquidation and whilst we have found another supplier who claimed to meet the new installation deadlines of the December 31st, some unforeseen technical issues have escalated costs and created uncertainty over timescales.
Renewable energy reflections
Whilst we can hope that this Government might take note of the recent consultation responses, the UK solar industry is in disarray at the moment. So we will reflect on their response in the New Year and will continue to look at how we, as a community energy co-operative, could work on community-funded renewable and energy efficiency projects across the Arun and Chichester districts. Please let us know if there are particular interests or projects that you would like to see us pursue.
Local Solar farm
Now for the exciting good news! We are pleased to announce today the launch of a community share offer for Meadow Blue Community Energy, where we have partnered with Lewes-based OVESCO and the Wiltshire-based developer Mongoose Energy to create a new Community Benefit Society to deliver a 5MW solar farm. Located between Chichester and Bognor Regis near the village of Merston, it is one of the first in the UK to benefit from a split-site Government incentive where it sits alongside a more conventional, commercial 5MW installation. Because of its scale and structure, it can offer an attractive interest rate for community investors as well as deliver over £4M in community investment over 25 years. There is short window to sign up for this so we invite you to invest and become a member of this new Community Benefit Society. We would like as many local people to invest as possible in what may become an over-subscribed national offer.
www.ethex.org.uk/MeadowBlue
A meet-the-directors event for people to find out more will be held on Tuesday 17th November, with sessions running from 4-6pm and 6-8pm. It will take place at Vicar’s Hall, The Royal Chantry, Cathedral Cloisters, Chichester PO19 1PX. The share offer closes on the 24th November.
Future of Community Energy locally
We are hosting 2 evenings to explore the concepts of Community Energy.
Wednesday, 1st July, 7.30pm Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, Chichester, PO19 7LG
Tuesday, 7th July, 7.30pm, Jubilee Hall, New Park Centre, Chichester, PO19 7XY
You are invited to hear about the latest developments, and to:
- Learn how you can help create a cleaner energy future
- Consider investing in local renewable energy projects
- Help us shape the future together, and
- Join our energy community
The events are free of charge and open to anyone from the Chichester and Arun Districts
University of Chichester agrees to Solar PV project
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The University of Chichester and Solesco are delighted to announce that a solar PV project has been agreed between them. The project has been subject to extensive investigation and negotiation and is now at the detailed planning stage.Solesco is part of the Big Energy Saving Network
Solesco article in Chichester Observer
Here’s a link to an article published in the Chichester Observer in November 2014:
http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/local/cost-saving-step-to-boost-west-sussex-businesses-1-6434434
Powering Our Communities -Chichester, September 23 – Agenda
Powering Our Communities
The Community Energy South discussions
Tuesday 23 September – Chichester Agenda, Assembly Rooms
11:00 Event opens – Registration.
SESSION 1: Community Energy
- 11:30 Welcome and introduction to the Community Energy South Discussions hosted
by award -winning Community Energy Group, OVESCo – Chris Rowland
introduces 2014; a year of Community Energy and the growth of new energy
groups across Sussex. - 11:45 Solesco: a new Community Energy group based in Chichester – Tom
Broughton introduces the potential for Community Energy in Chichester and
Arun districts - 12:00 Steyning Greening Campaign – Malcolm Duke showcases the work of the
Steyning group, from Green Drinks discussions to partnering with large-scale
solar. - 12:15 Barcombe Energy Group – Nigel Greenwood will introduce the Barcombe
Rural District Heat project and the potential of off the gas grid
communities. - 12:30 West Solent Solar Co-operative – Anthony Woolhouse the Chair, explains how
his community got right behind a locally owned 2.4MW solar project. - 12:45 Worthing Energy Shop – Jason Hannah introduces plans to set up a
community-led energy shop and advice service. - 13:00 DEBATE – Tom Broughton the editor of the Community Energy South
newsletters, will chair a debate with the first community energy speakers on
the importance of Community Energy in West Sussex. - 13:20 Lunch and networking
SESSION 2: Scaling up community energy and becoming sustainable
- 14.00 Introduction to Powering Our Communities by Ollie Pendered, OVESCo and
Community Energy South. Stories and inspiration from Germany – working with
local authorities and building the Big Energy Saving Network. - 14:20 Your Energy Sussex – formerly the Sussex Energy Saving Partnership, is making
maximum use of Government schemes such as Green Deal, the Energy
Company Obligation (ECO) and other funding sources, to install energy
saving measures in up to 680,000 households over the next 25 years and help
businesses to become more energy efficient. - 14.35 The Sussex Energy Tariff in our hands – Kayla Ente founder of Brighton and
Hove Energy Services Co-operative introduces the plans for a Sussex Energy
Tariff and starting to break up the Big 6 energy supply companies. - 14.50 A look at the future potential for community energy across Sussex – Dave
Barton one of the Founders of Transition Chichester and Director of Solesco. - 15.05 Cuckmere Community Solar – Alister Scott introduces the pitfalls and highs of
developing a large-scale, community-owned solar project and working with
a developer to develop a joint venture commercially and community owned
solar project. - 15:20 Green Growth Platform: support to help you create a sound business model
and unlock your growth potential. Jane Ollis of the Green Growth Platform
reminds us of the importance of a sound business model and a close eye on
business basics; strategy, finance, resources and marketing. - 15:35 DEBATE – Ollie Pendered will Chair a debate with a panel of speakers and
questions from guests with thoughts on the day and growing support for a
future, locally-grown Energy Market. - 16:00 Close
Supported by; OVESCo, Communities Matter, Barcombe Energy Group, HKD Energy (Hassocks Keymer and Ditchling), Brighton Energy Coop, Brighton & Hove Energy Services Company, Energise Sussex Coast, RX Energy Rye, Cuckmere Valley Solar, Alfriston Energy, Worthing Energy Shop, SOLESCO Chichester and Arun, Sustainability Connections, Steyning Greening Group, Forest Row Energy, East and West Sussex County Council (Your Energy Sussex), Kent County Council, Repower Balcombe, Eastbourne Community Energy, University of Brighton Green Growth Platform, Brighton Energy Co-Op and Forum for the Future.
Powering Our Communities
The Community Energy South Discussions
‘Powering Our Communities.’
The Community Energy South discussions.
This is one of four events taking place across the region between the 19th and 29th of September.
Please confirm your attendance by registering for the Chichester event.
Organised by Community Energy South, to showcase local community energy initiatives, it sets out to encourage new groups to take up community energy, look at scaling up our low carbon future and to develop local, green-growth jobs.
Community Energy is now, more than ever, featuring upon community agendas across the country. Today there are 6000 community energy groups in the UK looking closely at their local energy use. In doing so, they are making bold steps to generate locally owned energy, alongside helping their communities to use their power and heat more efficiently. These communities are both empowering themselves and making significant cost savings.
The ‘Powering our Communities’ events are free and focused upon providing information for community groups, parishes, local authorities, individuals and businesses whom all want to know more about developing a low carbon, energy efficient community. It provides an opportunity for everyone to learn from communities whom are doing just that. Existing groups will showcase the growth of community energy and debate the future growth of the industry in our region.
These half-day conferences will provide opportunities to meet local energy champions. Lunch is provided and the conference agenda will cover:
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ENERGY
– Community Energy – developing local power networks
– Tackling Fuel poverty – Big Energy Saving Network in Sussex and Kent
– schools and energy champions.
– District heating – case studies for off-grid communities.
SCALING UP & MAKING LOCAL GREEN JOBS
– Training in community energy and energy efficiency.
– Large scale solar and community involvement
– Community energy and development.
– Our own regional energy tariffs.
– Your Energy Sussex- The Green Growth Platform.
Supported by; OVESCo, Communities Matter, Barcombe Energy Group, HKD Energy (Hassocks Keymer and Ditchling), Brighton Energy Coop, Brighton & Hove Energy Services Company, Energise Sussex Coast, RX Energy Rye, Cuckmere Valley Solar, Alfriston Energy, Worthing Energy Shop, SOLESCO Chichester and Adur, Sustainability Connections, Steyning Greening Group, Forest Row Energy, East and West Sussex County Council (Your Energy Sussex), Kent County Council, Repower Balcombe, Eastbourne Community Energy, University of Brighton Green Growth Platform, Forum for the Future.
SOLESCO Looks To Energy Future In Chichester & Arun
Tom Broughton was interviewed on Spirit FM on 25 June 2014.