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Throughout Community Energy Fortnight (13-27th September) people across the UK are being encouraged to look into community energy schemes in their areas as winter approaches. There are already over 5000 such schemes nationwide.
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More than 5,000 communities around the country already join together to generate their own energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy. Many other schemes offer help on home insulation and energy audits.
However, new research released today shows that despite the fact more than 80% of us feel we pay too much for our energy bills, more than half of us are unaware of community energy schemes that could save us money.
Almost a third say they would be interested in generating their own power if it was the same price or cheaper than their current tariff, while a quarter say they would consider an energy source that was generated amongst their local community. One in five say it would make a difference to them if profits from energy production also went back into their community.
Almost half admit they don’t know how their current energy supply is generated but many of those surveyed by Siemens say recent developments in technology in relation to energy interests them.
Greater choice of suppliers and tariffs, smart metering, renewable energy solutions; such as solar panels, smart products in the home including energy saving fridges and washing machines, and tariffs that see people rewarded for not using energy at peak times were amongst the developments that those surveyed consider most important.
Paul Brodrick, Head of Smart Grid Applications & Solutions for Siemens in North West Europe, said: “The UK is on the threshold of a new energy revolution, with individuals and communities starting to play a greater role in the energy system. Our research shows that people are clearly interested in generating their own energy as well as buying it through their local community. Whilst our research suggests an overall lack of awareness of decentralized community energy, there is a clear desire amongst consumers to find out how they can generate their own energy. As an industry, we now have a responsibility to enable the next energy revolution.”
Siemens is a technology enabler for community energy schemes. The Decentralised Energy Management System from Siemens connects up and pools many small-scale distributed energy sources so they can be operated as a single ‘virtual power plant.’
Graham Ayling, Community Services Manager at Energy Saving Trust, said: “The growth of community energy over the last few years has been explosive. From a handful of visionaries it has grown to movement encompassing more than 5000 projects across the UK, from neighbourly energy advice to multi-megawatt renewable energy generators. This quiet revolution is happening against a backdrop of far-reaching technological advances and changes to our energy system, creating an unprecedented opportunity to make energy cleaner, smarter and more affordable for everyone. Community Energy Fortnight brings together communities, councils, businesses and civil society to share that vision.”
Ramsay Dunning, General Manager at Cooperative Energy, said: “We welcome the commitment to community energy shown by Siemens, and the desire from people for community energy demonstrated in the research. Through ‘User Chooser’ and using technology is what has enabled customers of Cooperative Energy to choose how their electricity is generated, and even where from, so they can support community schemes and still save money from low prices. We see using technology providing ever more opportunities to reduce costs and offer greater choice to our customers.”
To find out more about all the events happening during the 2014 Community Energy Fortnight, visit http://ukcec.org/events/community-fortnight-2014. You can also follow #CEF2014 on Twitter.
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