RESOURCES AND FURTHER INFORMATION
Devon Community Energy Impact Report 2018
This report, commissioned by Devon County Council (DCC) on behalf of community energy organisations, provides a snapshot of community energy activity in Devon (including the unitary authority areas of Plymouth and Torbay). The aims of these organisations are focused on giving local communities greater control over how energy is generated and used and maximising the engagement and benefit from energy projects. The varied activities of community energy organisations to deliver these goals include reducing energy demand, improving energy efficiency and increasing the amount of energy generated locally from low-carbon and renewable sources.
https://www.regen.co.uk/publications/devon-community-energy-impact-report-2018/
There are a number of similar organisations across Devon that can provide expertise. Some are:
Community Energy England and Community Energy South
These are the definitive organisations to support the movement across England. We are members and the website has a wealth of information, guidance and support for the rapidly growing network of community energy organisations.
https://communityenergyengland.org/
https://www.communityenergysouth.org/
Devon Community Energy
Is the leading voice for community energy in Devon, bringing together community energy organisations, local authorities and businesses and others.
https://www.devoncommunityenergy.org.uk/
Regen – transforming energy
Regen is an independent centre of energy expertise with a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon energy system. We are leading strategists on the pathway to a zero carbon energy system, focused on analysing the systemic challenges of decarbonising power, heat and transport. We know that a transformation of this scale will require engaging the whole of society in a just transition.
Communities for Renewables
CfR is a mission-led community interest company which helps to set up local energy enterprises and works with them to develop, finance and manage their own renewable energy generation.
Exeter Community Energy
As a community-owned organisation, we want to benefit the city, its people and the environment. One element of this is sharing the financial benefits between shareholders. Similarly, we have a fund for community projects and investment in further energy projects.
Tamar Energy Community
We provide independent energy advice and support, develop community owned renewable energy projects, and are working to understand how local people can gain greater benefit from the changing energy market.
Addressing the Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and how we can Build Back Better is at the core of our work.
https://tamarenergycommunity.com
361 Community Energy
361 Community Energy is a not-for-profit social enterprise. Our focus is on providing energy advice to households and businesses in North Devon and Torridge. We provide free energy saving advice to vulnerable households. We also have Retrofit Coordinators who can advise on suitable ways to upgrade your home, making it more energy efficient and lowering its carbon emissions. Please contact us if you would like to know more about our services.
361 works with a wide range of local and regional partnerships, including North Devon Council, Torridge Council, Devon County Council, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Devon Community Energy Network.
South Dartmoor Community Energy
Helping people save energy, money and carbon. Working towards a zero carbon future for the South Hams.
Totnes Renewable Energy Society
We develop community-owned renewable energy in Devon. We aim to reduce our local carbon footprint and lower our dependence on imported energy in partnership with schools, businesses and local people.
Plymouth Energy Community
Empowering our community to create a fair, affordable, zero carbon energy system with local people at its heart.
https://plymouthenergycommunity.com
Delivering community benefits from wind energy development:
This toolkit is designed to help wind energy developers, local authorities and local communities understand better:
the range of ways in which host communities can benefit from wind energy developments
the possible justifications for ensuring greater local benefits
the factors which may influence the nature and skill of benefits available to host communities
the options for managing the delivery of benefits locally
the role each of them can potentially play in securing local benefits
A comparison of the financial benefits arising from private and community owned wind farms. Final Report to Point and Sandwick Development Trust. Aquatera – June 2021
This Report has compared a number of private and community owned wind farms in terms of the benefit payments they provide to local community projects and organisations. These payments are over and above the normal benefits to the local economy which come from the operational costs of all wind farms, such as, for example, payments to local contractors or rental payments to local landowners.
Community Engagement for renewable energy transition.
How local planning authorities can accelerate renewable energy delivery 2021
How to use renewable energy workshops so that local communities can develop an informed consensus to the type, location and scale of renewable energy that they might accept or support at a parish scale.
https://www.cse.org.uk/search?q=Community+energy+workshops
Community Engagement and Benefits from Onshore Wind Developments
Good Practice Guidance for England. 2021
This new guidance provides a framework to help communities and developers engage constructively during the whole lifetime of an onshore wind project and deliver the types of benefits that local people truly want, in a way that is fair to all concerned.
MISSION ZERO Independent Review of Net Zero. 2023
A massive 340 page report makes it clear that there must be more place-based, locally led action on net zero. Our local areas and communities want to act on net zero, but too often government gets in the way. The Government must provide central leadership on net zero, but it must also empower people and places to deliver. Place-based action on net zero will not only lead to more local support but will deliver better economic outcomes as well.
Devon Climate Assembly “How should Devon meet the big challenges of climate change?” A report for the Devon Climate Emergency Partnership. 2021
Key themes were the need for:
Wider communication and information about the climate emergency
Greater community involvement and engagement
Urgent action
Ambition locally
Strong leadership
Accountability to the public
Central government to play an enabling role.
Benefits of Community Energy – Community Energy England
A long list of the many benefits that community energy can provide.
https://communityenergyengland.org/pages/benefits-of-community-energy
Insulating homes this winter (2022/3)could be cost neutral
Research claims the Treasury could break even if it invests in insulating roofs and walls this winter.
https://www.futurenetzero.com/2022/09/09/insulating-homes-this-winter-could-be-cost-neutral/
Who Says It’s a Climate Emergency?
Scientists and others are declaring that humanity faces a climate emergency and must respond with immediate, far-reaching action.
https://coveringclimatenow.org/resource/fact-sheet-who-says-its-a-climate-emergency/
Net zero: UK government has a weak strategy – so here’s what makes a good climate change plan.
So what does a good net zero strategy look like? In a new perspective paper we set out how to get net zero right. We argue that net zero strategies can be measured against three principles: the urgent pursuit of emission cuts, the cautious use of carbon offsets and carbon removal, and alignment with broader objectives for sustainable development.
UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022 – Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 56 of the Climate Change Act 2008
This is the third Technical Report for the CCRA3 which identifies sixty-one UK-wide climate risks and opportunities cutting across multiple sectors of the economy. For each risk and opportunity, an assessment of the urgency of further action has been conducted.
Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill Overview
A Bill to require the United Kingdom to achieve climate and nature targets; to give the Secretary of State a duty to implement a strategy to achieve those targets; to establish a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; to give duties to the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee regarding the strategy and targets; and for connected purposes.
The South West Net Zero Hub
Provides a range of guides and information.
https://www.swenergyhub.org.uk/what-we-do/knowledge-centre/
York City Green Housing
The city plans to build Britain’s biggest zero7carbon housing project, boasting 600 homes in car7free cycling paradises full of fruit trees and allotments. When will the rest of the UK catch up?
Energy use and reduction
This toolkit is designed to introduce businesses and organisations to building energy measurement and reduction best practice.
https://www.planetmark.com/the-energy-crisis-how-your-business-can-save-energy-and-cut-costs/
Harnessing knowledge for a citizen-led energy transition
The EU’s ambitious decarbonisation targets cannot be met by technology alone.
What are the social, economic and legal conditions that will enable a shift in our energy model: from a centralised energy regime to a decentralised one, from a society of passive energy consumers to one of empowered, engaged energy citizens?
https://ec2project.eu/about-ec2/the-project
Environment Agency Strategic Plan to 2025
This contains a long list of Objectives and delivery plans for a better environment.
Net zero plus
NetZeroPlus will help build up the knowledge needed in the UK and beyond, to answer the surprisingly challenging questions of finding ‘the right tree in the right place’ and setting the UK on the path to delivering net zero emissions by 2050.
The Pathways for Local Heat Delivery Policy Commission report
Examines all the components that are required to deliver a local heat solution and the barriers that need removing.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/energy/policy/pathways-for-local-heat-delivery.aspx
How to reduce your energy bill by 60%
An article demonstrating the savings that a house could make.
https://www.raponline.org/blog/how-we-reduced-our-energy-bills-by-60/
MID DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL’S Climate strategy & handbook 2020-2024
Mid Devon District Council has agreed to a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and is seeking to address the challenge through our services, as well as by enabling the wider district.
Better Homes – Cooler Planet
New analysis shows low carbon technologies could cut annual energy bills by almost £2000 and carbon emissions by 95%, also adding value to the house.
https://www.scottishpower.com/news/pages/better_homes_cooler_planet.aspx
Rewilding and Climate Breakdown
How restoring nature can help decarbonise the UK.
Recession Ready
A green plan to beat tomorrow’s downturn.
https://neweconomics.org/2020/01/recession-ready
National Grid – Future Energy Scenarios
Future Energy Scenarios (FES) represent a range of different, credible ways to decarbonise our energy system as we strive towards the 2050 target.
https://www.nationalgrideso.com/future-energy/future-energy-scenarios
House of Commons Public Accounts Committee 2022
Notes: The government’s net zero strategy requires government, local government, regulators, businesses, and consumers working all together to deliver its targets. A top-down strategy from government won’t deliver on its own. There is a risk that a series of disconnected initiatives announced by central government will not bring about the changes that are now set out in law.
Final Report – The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review
The Review calls for changes in how we think, act and measure economic success to protect and enhance our prosperity and the natural world. Grounded in a deep understanding of ecosystem processes and how they are affected by economic activity, the new framework presented by the Review sets out how we should account for Nature in economics and decision-making.
Low Carbon Neighbourhood Planning
This publication explores the huge potential of neighbourhood plans to plan for and build a positive future for local communities, through addressing and responding to this, the most challenging issue of our times.
https://neighbourhoodplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/low-carbon-neighbourhood-planning-guidebook.pdf
The Local Climate Challenge
What is clear from our investigation is that the chance to address climate change effectively and rebuild local economies fit for future is in danger of being missed.
Therefore, we recommend a new policy framework setting out expectations for all levels of government and including ways to overcome current barriers to decarbonisation. This should form an essential baseline for local action.
https://green-alliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The_local_climate_challenge.pdf
How green is my plan
How well is your neighbourhood plan really doing? Does it do enough to tackle climate change and address sustainability issues? Should you be more radical or ambitious?
This self assessment will help you work out where it could be improved and if there are issues you’ve missed. It could help you revise your plan if you’re writing it, or could inform your response to a consultation.
Neighbourhood Planning in a Climate Emergency
This publication explores the huge potential of neighbourhood plans to plan for and build a positive future for local communities, through addressing and responding to this, the most challenging issue of our times.
Green Steps to Better
Nine key steps to a better tomorrow
National Infrastructure Commission
Many documents set out recommendations for better quality of life around improving infrastructure.
https://nic.org.uk/studies-reports/
The Agroforestry Handbook
A useful short definition of agroforestry is ‘farming with trees’. Agroforestry includes both the integration of trees on farmland and the use of agricultural crops and livestock in woodlands. This publication shows the many benefits to be obtained through these processes of land use.
https://www.soilassociation.org/media/19141/the-agroforestry-handbook.pdf
A Green Recovery – and how we get there.
One of many associated publications demonstrating that not only does climate action remain critical over the next decade, but investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and the transition to a lower-carbon future can drive significant near-term job creation while increasing economic and environmental resiliency.
Decarbonising Transport – Setting the Challenge
Transport has a huge role to play in the economy reaching net zero. The scale of the challenge demands a step change in both the breadth and scale of ambition and the Government sets out its duty to act quickly and decisively to reduce emissions.
There is a possibility that the intervention time left to prevent tipping could already have shrunk towards zero, whereas the reaction time to achieve net zero emissions is 30 years at best. Hence we might already have lost control of whether tipping happens. The stability and resilience of our planet is in peril. International action — not just words — must reflect this.