Surrey County Council (SCC) has teamed up with Community Energy South (CES) to deliver community energy generation projects across the county.
With the goal of creating a Community Benefit Society (CBS) that will create a pipeline of potential clean energy generation sites across the county, we are aiming to deliver one of these projects within 12 months – and we want the help of our communities to do this!
The project delivers multiple benefits and opportunities for Surrey's residents, businesses and charities, including:
- Below-grid-price energy for the residents, businesses and charities involved in a project
- The opportunity for ethical investment within Surrey, with an expected annual return on investment plus full capital repayment long term
- Opportunities for upskilling and job creation within the energy sector
- Creation of projects to support SCC's strategic priority of a sustainable economy
- Genuine increased energy security and independence through local energy generation - which cannot be gained from local oil or gas extraction due to the nature of international energy markets
- Reduced residential emissions to help achieve SCC's strategic priority for Surrey's Greener Future
Support Surrey Community Energy
Surrey Community Energy (SCE) already has 9 directors signed up, but still needs plenty of support, and joining the team is a great route to becoming a director if you'd like to join the board.
There are 3 ways you can support SCE:
- Volunteer - SCE has a wide range of tasks and roles available. In particular, SCE needs a voluntary Financial Director who can help with finances, but there are many ways you can help, just get in touch.
- Help us find sites - SCE is building a project pipeline, and welcomes site recommendations in line with the criteria listed in the section above. Please complete the site identification form to help us locate suitable project sites.
- Invest - SCE has not yet raise a share offer, but will be looking for investors inside and outside of surrey. If you're keen to invest in local projects which create energy security, boost the local economy, and provide an annual return, get in touch .
We have the experience and expertise of Community Energy South to support the society, so if you are very interested but are worried about a lack of experience, please do email us to chat. Community Energy England was created to spread knowledge and upskill people into energy projects, so remember that many people started in your position.
How community energy projects work
This is a simplified version of how community energy projects provide a win-win collaboration for the stakeholders involved:
SCC and CES will help a collection of Surrey residents to form a community benefit society (a form of co-op, with either local or UK-wide investors). The group will identify sites for energy generation, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or community heat networks, which deliver the benefits listed above. Once feasible sites are agreed, a lease agreement is signed with the landowner / asset holder for £1 per annum. Investment is then invited for equipment and running costs which can be done by the society, or via existing organisations' with a membership of ready and willing investors. The clean energy generated on site is purchased by the occupants using the energy, at a lower-than-grid price. At the end of projects like these, the solar equipment is usually donated to the site. Investors are paid back periodically or at the end of the long-term lease. While investments are at risk, the society will be registered by the Financial Conduct Authority, annual accounts are audited and everyone involved has the right to follow progress, check accounts and hold equal votes. There are several hundred organisations like this across the UK and it's a very collaborative and sharing sector. Everybody wins!
