New Community Local Energy Group Bridgend Borough Inaugural Meeting January 25th

Sustainable Wales is hoping to establish a local community energy group that will build on the renewable energy work now being undertaken within the county borough.

The first meeting will be held on January 25th 2018, 7pm, The Green Room, above SUSSED, 4/5 James Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BG.

The need for a low carbon future is agreed internationally. Community energy will democratise electricity supply, as highlighted by Sustainable Wales’ earlier Shine a Light campaign.

“Many community groups across the UK are considering how to capitalise on this and create local jobs. However, this isn’t yet happening in Bridgend”, said a Sustainable Wales, spokesperson.

New Community Local Energy Group Bridgend Borough Inaugural Meeting January 25th 7pm The Green Room, above SUSSED 4/5 James Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BG. All welcome.

In September 2017, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths announced she wanted Wales to generate 70 per cent of its electricity consumption from renewable energy by 2030.

The Cabinet Secretary also set targets for renewable energy projects to have at least an element of local ownership by 2020 and for at least one Gigawatt of renewable electricity capacity to be locally owned by 2030.

http://gov.wales/newsroom/environmentandcountryside/2017/170928-lesley-griffiths-high-on-ambition-for-clean-energy/?lang=en

“The group will become involved in Community Energy Wales and the Renew Wales networks, but will need all types of motivated talent as there is much to do and many ways of working, added the spokesperson. “We look forward to a fruitful evening.” more info contact mm@sustainablewales.org.uk. 

Bridgend Local Energy Revolution: Workshop Announced

In April Sustainable Wales hosted a public lecture at the Grand Pavilion on local energy. (Listen to the podcast here: https://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/blog/energymeeting0417)

Reach followed this up with a workshop on community renewable energy. 

Following the workshop reach commissioned a study to identify opportunities for community renewable  energy in rural Bridgend and are in the process of commissioning for a delivery body to deliver a rural household energy awareness and community energy campaign and to project manage one community’s journey through developing and implementing a community energy project of their own. You can find the tender here.

We have since discovered that quietly there has been a lot of activity regarding local energy in Bridgend and Sustainable Wales have agreed to draw attention to these projects and to host a workshop Bridgend’s Local Energy Revolution. 

It is an exciting time for local energy in Bridgend County and the event will provide an opportunity to hear about some of the projects currently underway and also an opportunity to discuss what’s next for developing local and community energy in Bridgend County. 

Please download here the event invitation and further details. You can also view the invitation document and agenda below (click to enlarge the images).

Kind regards

Geoff Hobbs and Margaret Minhinnick

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Bridgend: FREEDOM energy project - save up to £10,000 on a new efficient boiler!

Exclusive Invitation from Sustainable Wales for Bridgend County Borough

FREEDOM Project trials

24 households are being invited to take part in this FREE pilot Energy Saving Scheme located in Bridgend Borough this summer.  50+ homeowners are already taking part with PassivSystems  www.passivsystems.com limited places still available... Details below.

Margaret and Robert Minhinnick of Sustainable Wales have agreed to participate saving between £7-£10,000 on a new combi-boiler and air-source heat pump.

Please contact the company and send a copy to mm@sustainablewales.org.uk 

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PassivSystems are managing the world leading project based in Bridgend. It's trialling hybrid heating systems which is a combination of a gas boiler and air-source heat pump.

We are searching for a total of 75 homes in the Bridgend area.

There is a great incentive for homeowners to take part in the trial:

  • A free new state-of-the-art hybrid heat pump - this a gas boiler and a hybrid heat pump
  • Free installation 
  • A year of service and maintenance 
  • Smartphone heating controls – control your heating remotely and set when you want heating at more exact times for you
  • Potential savings on your heating bills.
  • Gift card rewards for taking part in project surveys and interviews.
  • The chance to reduce your carbon emissions and directly improve the Bridgend’s carbon footprint.

Installations will be taking place in July 2017, August 2017, September 2017 and October 2017. An installation typically takes 3 to 4 days, homeowners would be without heating and hot water for no longer than 4 hours (in the middle of the day) over that period.

PassivSystems will be monitoring the hybrid heat pump until April 2018, the project ends in May 2018.

The homeowner will not incur any costs or have to pay for anything. Once the project is complete, the homeowner will have to complete the annual service which is typical of all heating systems.

Download the following information (PDF):

Letter from Sustainable Wales

Info on the project

Homeowner's FAQ