Phoenix Energy Community

Developing community energy for Thame, Long Crendon and Haddenham

Phoenix Energy Community formed in 2023, bringing together members of three local environmental groups: Thame Green Living, Green Crendon and Zero Carbon Haddenham.

It grew out of Thame Green Living, a Low Carbon Hub community group, and is now a separate Community Interest Company (CIC) focused on community energy projects.

Aims and vision

The group’s vision is for everyone in the three communities to have an energy-efficient home, for local organisations to have energy-efficient buildings powered by local renewable energy, and for the wider community to be engaged and understand energy. It is also a partner in the Renewable Thame project, which offers local residents and businesses solar panels and batteries, and may extend to heat pumps.

Thame Green Living won a large grant from Low Carbon Hub’s Community Grants Fund to build a website for Phoenix and run communications and an engagement event. Since the website launched, Phoenix has run a successful engagement campaign, with presentations to local town and parish councils, residents’ associations and businesses.

The group won a Community Energy Fund grant from the Greater South East Net Zero Hub for a feasibility study into using a community battery alongside new or existing large renewable energy installations. This could increase the amount of renewable energy generated and used locally, and raise money for energy efficiency projects across the community.

As part of its engagement programme, Phoenix held a well-attended Energy Expo at Long Crendon Baptist Hall, and joined Low Carbon Hub at the Chinnor Energy Expo.