Renewables Forward’s Post

Invest in community energy and earn 5% interest. DVCE-CP, a community benefit society, is embarking on a new renewable energy initiative following the successful completion of the #CongletonHydro project. This new project aims to harness solar power for schools and businesses in Congleton, Cheshire, and North Staffordshire. As a community-owned project, DVCE-CP will utilise the company’s assets for the benefit of the local community. The society will be managed by a committed team of volunteers and any surplus generated will be reinvested in the community. To fund this project, a share offer has been introduced, allowing individuals and organisations to invest in the venture, with share amounts ranging from £100 to £50,000. Our primary objective is to raise £530,000 through this share offer, enabling us to complete construction and initial operation. Investors will receive annual interest of 5% and their investment will be repaid over 15 years. The share offer is set to close on October 31st. More info: www.congletonsolar.co.uk By combining the power of community ownership and renewable energy, DVCE-CP seeks to create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and the local community.

Most small villages have a pub, post office or shop. But, the village of Sheriffhales in Shropshire has something different… A solar farm. The village, home to 700 residents, has been given a funding boost thanks to its community energy scheme. The 3.2MW solar farm has the capacity to generate 984,000 kWh of renewable electricity - enough to power 825 homes each year. It has made a huge impact so far… At St Mary's Church, the solar farm provided £20,000 to enable plans to be put together to repair the tower roof, reorient the bell frame and stop a decades-old problem of rainwater damage. How would you feel if you had a local solar farm? https://lnkd.in/eQZVtfrZ #energy #artificialintelligence #data

In the remote Barkly region of Australia’s Northern Territory, about halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin, sits the small First Nations outstation of Marlinja. Home to roughly 60 people, the outback community recently celebrated the launch of what it says is the first First Nations-owned grid-connected solar microgrid in Australia. The microgrid includes a 100 kW solar array and a 136 kWh battery and took five years to complete as community members and Original Power, the non-profit developer for the project, navigated the design, fundraising, installation and commissioning process. Home to Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, Australia’s Northern Territory has a rich indigenous culture. But beyond the tourist areas, remote First Nations communities in the region are plagued by energy insecurity and high energy prices. For many, electricity is provided via pre-paid meters. Like pay-as-you-go mobile phone plans, the consumer purchases the amount of electricity they expect to need for a given period of time. Once the credit runs out, the meter shuts off power to the home. In 2019, Original Power, a community-focused Aboriginal organization, partnered with the Marlinja residents to develop a renewable energy solution that would provide not only low cost, clean energy but also long-term employment opportunities for community members who will operate and maintain the microgrid. The Marlinja microgrid was partially funded by the Barkly Regional Deal, an agreement between the governments of Australia and the Northern Territory, as well as the Barkly Regional Council. The deal is a 10-year, $67.3 million (A$100.5 million) commitment to improving the productivity and livability of the Barkly region. The remainder of the $502,000 (A$750,000) project cost was covered by financial donations and technology contributions from companies like 5B, which provided the system’s solar panels. To save energy & cost for your business, contact me at https://buff.ly/2EjAMbu. #Reliability #EnergyStorage #EnergyEfficiency #Renewables #EnergyAudit #Procurement #Resilience https://buff.ly/3xwFJMj

It's great for MacKenzie Scott to do what she likes with her money. Also, it's great that organizations like GRID Alternatives have existed to fill the technical capacity gap in Indian Country when it comes to solar and renewables development. Large funders like MacKenzie Scott and other Foundations need to understand, that the days of having non-Tribal intermediaries do work on our behalf are over. GRID Alternatives needs to spin off their Tribal focused work and business to be controlled by Tribal people. If not, there are Alternatives. #Tribal #tribalenergy #solar #energy #energysovereignty #energysecurity #Sovereignty https://lnkd.in/gVjGqBVA

UK countryside leads in solar power. Rural areas are excelling in domestic solar power generation, with 48 out of the top 50 English parliamentary constituencies for solar capacity located in the countryside, according to new analysis. CPRE The countryside charity Jackie Copley Department for Energy Security and Net Zero #energybills #energycosts #energycrisis #energycustomers #energyprices #energysupplier #gasprices #powergeneration

I just had to share this— I have heard a few folks recently say that ESG is dead—that it doesn’t work, it’s greenwashing, maybe investors don’t even really care. This new program by Arcadia, Google and EDP Renewables demonstrably proves that is a false narrative; it shows an effective combination of sustainability, economic value, and social benefit— ✅ 500MW of solar gets built—helping to decarbonize the grid. ✅ Google (presumably) attains long term savings on its power costs—increasing shareholder value. ✅ Low and moderate income families share in the savings via credits on their utility bill—a tangible, meaningful social benefit for people who need it most. I think this is an incredibly creative way for Google to concretely meet its ESG goals. They’re calling it “synthetic community solar” and it’s an innovative approach that doesn’t rely on state-level energy regulatory policies, which are highly fragmented and in many jurisdictions are unfavorable to community solar and similar approaches. Most of all, I think this really demonstrates how authentic corporate commitment to these values can move the needle—and it’s a great example that, yes, ESG can work! Kudos Joel Gamoran and team 🙌

According to BBC the small village of Sheriffhales, Shropshire, UK, with around 700 residents and no shop or pub, a solar farm has become the heart of a community energy scheme. Originally commissioned by a renewable energy company, the 3.2MW solar farm now generates renewable electricity equivalent to powering 825 homes each year. Sheriffhales Community Energy (SCE), a community benefit society, took ownership of the solar farm in 2023 with the help of a loan from Triodos Bank UK and funding from community bonds. Proceeds from the farm are invested in community projects, such as food parcels, a village hall extension, and support during the pandemic. SCE has already contributed over £150,000 to initiatives like improvements at Sheriffhales Primary School and repairs at St. Mary's Church. The solar farm's feed-in tariff system ensures a regular income by selling electricity to the national grid, with a projected surplus of about £1 million for community projects until 2040. The success of this community-driven renewable energy project is a testament to the positive impact of local initiatives, showcasing the power of community in action. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/ew7-yyZP #escooters #ebikes #zeroemission #electricpower #electricvehicle #electricvehicles #electrocar #electriccars #evcharging #evcharger #renewableenergy #environment #myenergi #gogreen #goelectric #environment #helptheplanet #ecosmart #greentech #renewable #partners #solarenergy #tesla #elonmusk #musk #semi #newtesla

SaskPower selects Lyuhána Solar LP to construct and operate Saskatchewa's largest solar facility near Estevan. This partnership, which includes Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure, Saturn Power, and Ocean Man First Nation, aims to generate 100 megawatts of emissions-free power, enough to supply around 25,000 homes. ++++ Find a link to the full article in the comments. If this was useful to you, consider sharing it with your connections and follow us—for similar updates. 👍🏽 #saskatchewan #solarpower #cleanenergyfuture

As we approach Earth Month, we mustn’t forget National Renewable Energy Day! The IBEW REF (Renewable Energy Fund) is proud of its role in this energy transition and it’s recognition of days like these making it into the cultural conversation that makes us excited to be part of the movement. . Image from @dncclimate 🌞 . If you’d like to learn more about Solar and join the solar workforce, please enroll in one of IBEW’s Renewable Energy Fund’s multiple training programs around the city of Chicago and Illinois. . The IBEW’s Renewable Energy Fund is a Training and Education non-profit organization focusing on workforce development and career pathways in the electrical construction industry. The REF serves historically underserved populations, environmental justice communities, foster care alums, and criminal justice-involved returning citizens. . #IBEW #iberref # renewableenergy #ibewrenewableenergyfund #solar #solarenergy #solarworkforce #solarfaq #solarfuture #solarjobs #ibewsolar #energytransition #workforcedevelopment

Solar2Share Collective welcomes companies from the industry and beyond to jointly donate solar systems for hospitals, schools, and kindergartens worldwide. By the end of 2024, up to twenty facilities will be able to transition to renewable energy thanks to this initiative. The companies joining Solar2Share Collective from its inception include Menlo Electric, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd., Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd., Deye Inverter, SolaX Power, sun.store, and Photonica. This joint initiative is open to diverse companies, inviting them to contribute equipment for solar stations in essential institutions such as healthcare and education. As part of the Solar2Share Collective initiative, there are currently 20 preselected facilities including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers that are ready to transition to solar energy in 2024. These facilities are located across various countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, including Poland, Germany, Czechia, Hungary, the UK, Ukraine, Egypt, Lebanon, and South Africa. They represent a diverse range of crucial public institutions that are prepared to operate independently using renewable energy sources and are awaiting the necessary equipment to be provided including panels, batteries, and storage. Each installation varies in size from 20 to 40 kW. “Our past projects were made possible through the collaborative efforts of fourteen partners,” said Bartosz Majewski, CEO at Menlo Electric. "We believe that by joining Solar2Share Collective we can scale the impact of our CSR program and foster greater industry involvement.” “Through Solar2Share Collective, we invite companies from diverse sectors to unite and implement impactful projects for the greater good,” added Agata Krawiec-Rokita, CEO at sun.store. “We firmly believe this collective effort will bring positive change to community facilities that are currently unable to afford the transition.” #cleanenergy