powering up your community resource library
consultation documents
Blewbury Energy Initiative’s Response to FiT Review
Blewbury Energy Iniative’s response to the phase 1 of the FiT review for solar PV.
Co-Operative Opportunity
The Co-op is working with Forum for the Future and Co-ops UK to develop a community power vision for the UK. There is a launch event on the 15th February.
Feed-in Tariff Update
Latest announcement from Government on the Feed-in Tariff.
FiT Scheme: Consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1
DECC’s consultation document on phase 1 of the review on the feed-in tariffs, focussing on the rates for solar PV.
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth briefing paper on the FiT review – covers all those frequently asked questions from What has the government proposed for schemes run by local communities? to the What are the impacts of the government proposals?
Hub Evidence for the Consultation Phase 2 Review
The Hub has looked at the evidence from Oxfordshire and local communities to respond to the government’s consultation Phase 2 Review on the Solar PV FiT.
Hub Final FiT Response
The Hub’s overall response to the FiT reviews – 1, 2a & 2b – compiled in consultation with many low carbon groups in Oxfordshire.
Hub Response to Consultation Phase 2 Review of FiT for non-solar PV technologies
The Low Carbon Hub has put together a response to the Government’s Phase 2 Review of the FiT for non-solar PV technologies. The final version will be submitted on the 26th April.
Hub’s Response to Consultation Phase 2 Review of the Solar PV FiT
The Low Carbon Hub has put together a draft response to the Government’s Phase 2 Review of the Solar PV FiT. The final version will be submitted on the 3rd April 2012.
Hub’s Response to the FiT Consultation
The Low Carbon Hub’s response to DECC’s consultation document on phase 1 of the FiT review on solar PV.
Power to the People
Link to Sarah Couch’s (Transition Eynsham Area) letter in response to Chris Koenig’s article in The Oxford Times on the cut in the Feed-in Tariff (Rush to Sort Solar Panels, 10 November).
Response from David Cameron
Sarah Couch from Transition Eynsham Area visited David Cameron’s office in Witney to discuss her concerns about the review of the Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) on solar PV. This is the letter she received in response.
Updated Hub Evidence Document for the Consultation Phase 2 Review
The Hub has updated the evidence from Oxfordshire for the Phase 2 Review to include non-solar PV technologies.
guides
Diagram of the Low Carbon Hub’s community energy service
A summary of the Hub’s community energy services.
Generating Energy Checklist: Microhydro Projects
A comprehensive checklist for those working on community microhydro projects: it takes you through all the steps from getting an owner agreement to the official switch on.
Generating Energy Checklist: Small Wind Projects
This checklist takes you through all the steps from getting an owner agreement and checking wind databases right up to the big switch on.
Generating Energy Checklist: Solar Projects
For communities working on solar projects, this checklist will be invaluable. It takes you step by step through all the stages from getting started and development to running a solar project.
Local United Diffusion Packs
Guides to support the setting up of social enterprises to combat the challenges of peak oil, including sustainable community loan fund and developing community energy.
Low Carbon Hub’s support for community solar projects
Summary of the support options under the Hub’s community energy service for solar PV projects.
Low Carbon Living: the Power to Make it Possible
This guide goes into detail as to how this successful West Oxford community developed ways to take action on climate change and generate a “double carbon cut”.
Model project plan for solar pv
The Low Carbon Hub have put together a suggested project plan for developing a community solar PV scheme to help you plan your project.
Project Plan: Microhydro
A useful project plan for a microhydro scheme, starting with the owner agreement and going right through to the FiT registration and annual maintenance checks.
Project Plan: Small Wind
A useful project plan for a microhydro scheme, including when best to take anemometer readings and sort out planning permission.
Project Plan: Solar PV
A useful project plan for a solar PV scheme, starting with the owner agreement and going right through to the FiT registration and readings and billings.
Renewables Comparator
This useful table will help you compare the renewable electricity technologies eligible for the FiT in terms of their suitability for a community-led project.
Solar PV in West Oxford
Low down on installing PV on Matthew Arnold School in West Oxford.
templates & examples
LCON’s Proposal on Renewable Energy to Cherwell School
LCON’s full proposal to the Cherwell School Board of Governors to develop a 50kWp solar PV installation on the roofs of the Cherwell School.
Low Carbon Hub’s community energy service: balance of benefits
The Hub have put together an example of balance of benefits for a solar PV scheme, showing project size, income, expenditure and potential returns.
ONCORE Letter of Intent
Example of letter of intent from Cherwell School to ONCORE, a community benefit society, promising to work exclusively with that organisation to develop a community solar PV installation.
ONCORE’s Community Share Offer Brochure
This brochure sets out the purpose, benefits and terms and conditions of ONCORE’s share offer to fund an installation of solar PV at the Cherwell School.
Sample Invitation to Tender
Based on sample from National Energy Foundation, this is ONCORE’s invitation to tender for the installation of 50kWp solar PV at the Cherwell School.
WOCoRe’s Proposal to Matthew Arnold School
A sample letter of intent to Matthew Arnold School re installing a solar PV array on the school roofs.
WOCoRe’s Business Plan
Sets out West Oxford Community Renewables’ plan for developing renewable energy projects in the West Oxford area. It goes into their fund raising strategy; financial forecasts; development costs and installation timelines.
WOCoRe’s Planning Proposal for 6kW Wind Turbine
WOCORE’s planning proposal to install a wind turbine on the old Corpus Christi sports field. It looks at the reasons to install wind and balance energy generation for a community.
WOCoRe’s Share Offer Brochure
This document sets out the terms of WOCoRe’s share offer to fund a range of renewable energy projects in West Oxford.
case studies
Bath & West Community Energy
Ten school projects in and around Bath were developed by Bath and West Community Energy following a share offer that raised over £700,000.
OVESCO
OVESCO developed a solar PV project on Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes following an amazing share offer that raised £350,000.
Renewable Energy Assessment: West Oxford
This paper looks at the renewable energy potential for the West Oxford area.
Small Wind: Proven 6kWe
Case study of the first wind project undertaken by West Oxford Community Renewables.
Solar PV: Commercial Project
This was the first collaboration between a community and a large retail business to install solar PV in the UK. The case study looks at the installation of 52kWp of solar PV on the newly-built Aldi supermarket in West Oxford.
Solar PV: Social Housing
In partnership with Oxford City Council, West Oxford Community Renewables installed five solar PV arrays of 2kWp each on social housing in the area.
Solar PV: the Charity Project
This is the first example of the lease of a roof by a community group for solar PV in the UK.
Solar PV: the Charity Project II
This case study shows the further installation of solar PV on the roofs of the King’s Centre and Cotswold Hall in West Oxford.
Solar PV: the School Project
This case study is on the largest solar PV array on a school in the UK: 100kWp on Matthew Arnold School in West Oxford.
Westmill Voices
The community that installed the wind farm at Westmill have put together an inspiring video – Westmill Voices – on the wind farm and the community that supported it, and what it means to them.
Wind of Change
A short documentary showing how Fintry in rural Stirlingshire, Scotland, has embraced renewable energy for a more sustainable future for their community.
tools
Encraft Carbon Calculators
Encraft have developed a whole range of calculators to measure everything from heat pumps to solar thermal and your own carbon footprint.
NOABL Wind Map
Enter your postcode into the database and it will show you the estimated wind speeds at your location at three heights: 20m, 25m and 45m. There are also some useful calculators on this site to convert logs priced per volume and heating oil to price per kW to compare against other fuel sources.
useful links
Centre for Alternative Technology
CAT aims to inspire and inform people to live more sustainably. They offer practical solutions to environmental problems and run courses and provide information on all aspects of sustainable living, including a report on their vision of a zero carbon Britain.
Community Energy Online
Signposting website from DECC to help communities working on renewable energy projects.
DECC CHP Development Map
The CHP Development Map identifies locations in the UK where CHP (combined heat and power) has the greatest potential, and therefore the largest environmental impact.
DECC Renewables Map
This online map, published by DECC, shows key renewable installations around the country. You can filter by energy source, region or planning authority. A useful, if cumbersome, overview of renewables in the UK.
Feed-in Tariffs
This site gives the lowdown on the FiT tariffs – how they work, regulation and legislation as well as an update on the reviews and changes.
PlanLoCaL
PlanLoCaL has a suite of resources including films, a resource pack and website which aims to support communities and groups that are planning for low carbon living.
Renewable Energy: Made in Britain
The Renewable Energy Association’s latest report looks at employment figures and turnover in the renewable energy sector in the UK. Interesting reading.
Renewable Heat Incentive
A clear explanation of the RHI and how it works.
Solar Panel Installation
A quick-time video on installing a solar pv array.
