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.
“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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IWA Re-energising Wales update - ‘Funding Renewable Energy Projects in Wales’ roundtable
As part of its 'Re-energising Wales' project, the IWA held a roundtable discussion on Tuesday 6th June in order to explore and build consensus on how to take forward recommendations from the IWA ‘Funding Renewable Energy Projects in Wales’ report, launched earlier this year in April.
The roundtable benefited from a diverse group of experts from within and outside Wales, including financial institutions, Welsh Government, Welsh local government pension funds, developers, community groups and others.
The event note, which provides a summary of discussions and agreed actions, can be viewed here on the IWA website.