{"id":1371,"date":"2015-06-25T14:29:59","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T13:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/energyandclimatechange\/?page_id=1371"},"modified":"2026-04-08T16:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T15:19:50","slug":"community-energy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/energyandclimatechange\/community-energy","title":{"rendered":"Community energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wind<\/a><\/p>\n

Community energy refers to the delivery of community-led renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.<\/p>\n

Community projects keep money in the Devon economy, reduce carbon emissions, increase our energy security and help address fuel poverty.<\/p>\n

For a typical community-owned renewable energy scheme, the finance for purchasing the equipment, for example, solar panels or a biomass boiler for a community building, is raised through a share offer which enables local people to own part of the installation.<\/p>\n

Revenue from selling the energy is used to maintain the equipment, provide a modest return to investors and establish a community fund that can be spent on other local priorities, such as helping vulnerable people reduce their energy costs. The building occupier benefits from reduced-cost energy and the environment benefits from low carbon energy production.<\/p>\n

Community organisations generating energy and\/or providing energy advice in Devon are represented by the Devon Community Energy Network<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Communities looking to set up new projects should make contact with the Network.<\/p>\n

Understanding the benefits of Community Energy<\/h2>\n

The 2018 Devon Community Energy Impact Report<\/a>, commissioned by Devon County Council and Regen on behalf of the 23 community energy groups across the county, shows how Devon is taking a leading role in the UK\u2019s community energy revolution, and demonstrates the environmental, economic and social benefits that community energy projects are providing throughout the county.\u00a0 Devon County Council has contributed to this success through offering grants, training opportunities, consultancy support and networking since 2011.<\/p>\n

Devon Community Energy: Socio Economic Impact Assessment Report (2021)<\/a> was commissioned by Devon County Council and the South West Energy Partnership, funded by the European Local Energy Assistance programme.<\/p>\n

The report concludes that community-owned energy schemes have significant environmental benefits and can save local communities money.<\/p>\n

Community Energy Accelerator<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0RegenSW Community Energy Accelerator Project ran from June 2014 to June 2017 and incorporated the Devon Community Energy Accelerator Fund. The fund provided over \u00a362,000 of small start-up grants to community energy groups in Devon.\u00a0A summary report of the Accelerator activity funded by Devon County Council is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A set of online checklists<\/a> to help community energy groups look at business planning, community engagement, share offers, press releases, investment readiness and social media were also created.<\/p>\n

The experience of some of the community energy groups engaged on the Accelerator has been captured in a video which highlights the opportunities available to community energy groups as well as the challenges that Devon County Council is helping local communities overcome.<\/p>\n

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