ISEP members and other experts from the community energy space were recently joined by Pippa Heylings MP, the Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, to discuss how community energy can be scaled in the UK. In this short blog, Ben Goodwin, ISEP’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, looks at the key takeaways.
Opening the roundtable discussions, Pippa reflected on the novel approach that has been taken by the Centre for Climate Engagement to develop a locally determined contribution for Cambridgeshire in tackling climate change. The idea being that this is a practical level for climate action that can benefit local communities, whilst also feeding into national policy and targets on net zero.
A key aspect in taking action on climate change at a more local level is also to understand the opportunities and challenges for community energy deployment.
Whilst on the one hand it is encouraging that there is dedicated provision in the Great British Energy Bill to unlock the benefits of community energy, Pippa did also set out several barriers.
These included the difficulties that currently exist in relation to selling community energy, alongside the practicalities of integrating rural communities into schemes and plans.
There is perhaps also a question mark around the level of understanding that currently exists in government and the consequences of what a lack of consistent policy in this space has been.
Interventions from others at the roundtable married up with these observations too, with a general view emerging that there needs to be a clearer strategy developed at the heart of government on community energy deployment.
This should be articulated through focusing on the many additional benefits that developing community energy can bring. Including local job creation and enhancing community cohesion that in certain places could help to ensure a more just transition as we move towards building a greener economy.
Attendees at the roundtable also offered up good case study examples in Denmark and Germany whereby these additional benefits are being successfully realised by local communities and businesses.
There were other hurdles that participants also highlighted though. These included the inflexibility of local government procurement rules that might mean community energy projects are too expensive, alongside the idea that less well-off councils may struggle to engage regardless.
Overall, there was a sense that developing and deploying community energy at scale is something that absolutely needs to happen. However, getting there is going to require central government to set out a compelling vision and create the necessary policy guidance that can enable this to happen on the ground.
This roundtable was the latest in ISEP’s Public Affairs Roundtable Series – an initiative whereby we bring stakeholders and influential parliamentarians together to discuss the key sustainability issues of the day.
At our next session in June, we will be joined by Dame Glenys Stacey (of the Office for Environmental Protection) to discuss the latest in relation to the revision of England’s Environmental Improvement Plan. If you would like to know more, please get in touch at policy@iema.net.
Ben is Director of Policy and Public Affairs at ISEP. In this capacity he looks after the delivery of ISEP's core policy, practice and public affairs activities across a range of environmental and sustainability issues. Prior to joining the organisation Ben worked in several similar policy roles at organisations including the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Renewable Energy Association.
