Accounts
&
Accountability

Low carbon hub IPS

The purpose of the Low Carbon Hub IPS is to develop a decentralised, locally-owned renewable energy infrastructure for Oxfordshire to put local power in the hands of local people. We do this by developing our own portfolio of renewable energy projects with businesses, schools and public sector partners. No capital investment is required from our partners and there is minimal risk. Projects include roof-top, ground-mounted and canopy solar photovoltaic installations (solar PV), micro-hydro schemes, and biomass.The Low Carbon Hub IPS raises the investment and is the owner of these energy generation assets. Surpluses from the Hub IPS are passed to the Hub CIC to fund its community benefit projects and supporting activities. An example of a Low Carbon Hub IPS project is the solar PV installation on Oxford Bus Company’s depot in Cowley.

Company registration number: 31903R

Low Carbon Hub Sandford Hydro Ltd. (subsidiary of the IPS)

Sandford Hydro Ltd has been set up as a subsidiary of the IPS ready for when construction begins. All IPS Board members are on the Board of Sandford Hydro Ltd. For more information on the background history of the project, please go to: Sandford Hydro

Company registration number: 9743887

Management team and board of directors

Most members of the Board have been working together on community projects for many years. The Low Carbon Hub CIC and IPS Boards of Directors are comprised of the same people with the addition of an independent Director on each: Steve Drummond is the independent Director of the Low Carbon Hub IPS; Sue Halliwell is the independent Director of the Low Carbon Hub CIC. A Community Director is also elected to the CIC Board by our community shareholder groups.

Read more about who makes up our Board of Directors.

Low Carbon Hub CIC

The purpose of the Low Carbon Hub CIC is to deliver community benefit and provide practical support to communities to develop their own renewable energy projects on community assets. The projects provide cheaper electricity, an income for the local community and opportunities for local people to invest. The Hub team supports community volunteers through the complex process of setting up a social enterprise, developing their project, getting the project to investment-readiness and raising necessary finance. The process normally results in a local share-offer in which citizens can invest. Surpluses from community-owned enterprises are reinvested into further locally-managed carbon reduction projects. An example of a Low Carbon Hub CIC-supported project is Osney Lock Hydro in West Oxford.

In addition, the CIC is developing innovative low-carbon energy services and business models for communities to improve our renewable energy infrastructure. A part of the work of the CIC is influencing key stakeholders to create a supportive operating environment for community energy.

Our community group partners have a shareholding in the CIC to ensure our operation is totally transparent and is guided by those it is set up to serve. They elect one community member on our board of directors. To see if your group can join contact us.

Company registration number: 7583663