Community renewable energy scheme launched in the Rural Regeneration Zone

A groundbreaking scheme that supports the creation of community-owned renewable energy projects has been set up to boost Shropshire, Herefordshire and parts of Worcestershire.

‘sharenergy’, which has been backed by the Rural Regeneration Zone, aims to create co-operatives which will build and own their own wind, hydro, biomass or biogas power plants to generate their sources of power.

Communities which come together with the aim of creating their own energy schemes can receive support from the programme in order to begin the feasibility process.

The £780,000 project is managed by community-owned energy experts Energy4All and the scheme is inviting expressions of interest from anybody.

‘sharenergy’ is funded by Advantage West Midlands’ Rural Regeneration Zone, which delivers regeneration and support for businesses in most of Shropshire and Herefordshire and parts of Worcestershire.

The project forms part of a wider approach towards boosting environmental technologies in the Zone including the Re:think programme which makes available capital grants for businesses.

Jon Halle, Project Manager for ‘sharenergy’, said: “Energy costs and environmental concerns are particularly significant for householders and businesses at the moment.

“Many solutions to the twin challenges of high energy costs and climate change can actually be found within communities themselves.

“sharenergy is a groundbreaking initiative which seeks to support new renewable energy co-operatives through the feasibility and planning stages.

“Renewable energy co-operatives offer the opportunity for community control and small-scale local investment with competitive returns.

He continued: “This is an excellent opportunity for communities to begin to look for ways to provide their own solutions to the energy challenge and they can find out more about the scheme at our new website (www.sharenergy.coop).”

Matt Smith, Rural Regeneration Zone Partnerships Team Leader, said: “The Zone has a well established reputation for environmental excellence, which we are keen to build on and support.

“sharenergy is an innovative concept which will empower communities within the Rural Regeneration Zone to break their dependency on traditional forms of energy.

“This scheme can help communities work together to develop sources of energy that can be used to power businesses, homes and shops.

“It will help communities to drive their own agendas with the overall idea that the social enterprises set up will be able to reinvest part of their profits into the delivery of new projects.

“We believe that the West Midlands, and the Rural Regeneration Zone in particular, are leading the way in developing renewable energies and that our work will provide the rest of the UK – and indeed, the rest of the world – with some excellent solutions to their own energy challenges.”

For more information on ‘sharenergy’ visit www.sharenergy.coop