Over 200 delegates from the public sector and communities attended the ‘Powering Up North’ community energy conference on the 26th February 2015.  The event explored how we can encourage and capitalise on the fast paced growth of the community energy sector throughout the UK, to harness and expand this growth in the North.

As part of the day presentations and discussions considered the following:

Opportunity – exploring the potential for community energy in the North. Highlighting the multiple benefits this can bring, not just lowering carbon, but bringing social change and levering investment into renewable energy infrastructure.

Challenges – examining the issues and challenges, are they different from the South, if so, how and why?

Co-operation and networks – the keys to success in community energy are partnerships, collaboration and co-operation.

Support – working together to make it happen, delivering the full potential of community energy together.
 

The agenda and presentations from the event can be found below:

Powering Up North Programme

Powering Up North Delegates List

Why now for community energy?:

Anna Watson, Friends of the Earth

Amy Cameron, 10:10

The importance and opportunity of community energy:

Levering investment: Scaling up, the opportunities for Local Authorities and Registered Providers – Pure Leapfrog, Adam Marvel

Social investment: What does this mean for community energy? - Pier 11 C.I.C, James Hallsworth

Social impact: How Community Energy creates social and economic opportunities - ResPublica, Caroline Julian

Carbon impact: Communities controlling demand reduction and the smart cities agenda – Carbon Co-op, Jonathan Atkinson

Reviewing the challenges, support and success around the UK

Challenges faced - Becky Willis, Independent researcher

Overcoming Challenges - Richard Collins, Sheffield Renewables

Community Energy England’s Manifesto: What we need from policy makers - Emma Bridge, Community Energy England

Growing a Community Energy Network – Ollie Pendered, Communities Matter

The importance of peer and support networks – Gill Fenna, MORE Renewables

Community energy and social housing, the example of Chase Community Solar – Mike Kinghan, Chase Solar

Examining the broader benefits of a successful project - Kevin Frea, Halton Lune Hydro

YIMBY to Wind - When communities say yes to wind - Rachel Lee, HoTTWind@Longley Community

Journey, aspirations and vision - Alistair Macpherson, Plymouth Energy Community

Distributed Generation and Electricity North West - Mike Taylor, Electricity North West

Realising Transition Pathways Consortium: Research Launch

Distributing Power, a transition to a civic energy future - Beth Robertson and Victoria Johnson

Keynote Speech

Community energy: Is the North ready for our energy future - Alan Simpson