Mim Saxl

16 June 2025

Our Community Action Plan for Zero-Carbon Energy (CAPZero) is the first of its kind in the UK. It models how a cluster of communities in West Oxfordshire can create a zero-carbon energy system in their local area, in a way that benefits everyone.

It is a plan developed by community representatives together with energy system experts, and it has now entered an exciting implementation phase. Everyone needs to get involved: residents and businesses can lead the way, by taking action now.

With a good first year of implementation under our belt (April 2024- March 2025), we are now rolling full speed ahead into year two, with more energy, ideas and an ever-growing network of individuals, community groups and organisations engaged in the transition to net zero.

So, what happened in year one?

Read on for an extract from our year one report to West Oxfordshire District Council, with whom we have a 3-year service level agreement to deliver the project. You can download the full report here.

It gives me hope.

The focus for year one has been to get a secure and effective governance structure in place, with the first working groups up and running. A Stewardship Group, made up of project stakeholders to oversee the strategic running of the project, met quarterly, as did three working groups covering Domestic Retrofit, Non-Domestic Retrofit and Communication and Engagement.

Highlights of year one includes the formation of two new local community groups, Freeland Energy Group and Go Green Hanborough, who join GreenTEA in supporting and enabling action in their parishes. A programme of events culminated in the Big Home Energy Day, attended by over 100 people, with the chance to speak to residents and neighbours who have already taken action in their home. The bi-monthly newsletter audience is growing steadily, with workshops delivered to WODC’s Executive, interviews on local radio, and invites to participate in local events.

I am pleased to support a movement organisation which I consider to be essential for the future. I am very mindful of trying to start something which will benefit my children and grandchildren.

Emma, resident 

Most exciting has been the large amount of learning we have amassed in the first twelve months, the enthusiasm with which the project is received, the network and partnerships which are taking off, and the discovery that lots is already happening in the local area – great foundations for us to be building on. Net zero is possible, and we’re heading into year two of implementation with optimism and an increasing understanding of what needs to happen to facilitate it at a substation level.

Having established a strong governance and community engagement foundation, we are confident that in future years the project will increasingly realise the benefits set out in the CAPZero itself, i.e. transitioning a net zero local energy system by reducing energy demand as far as possible, in a way that works for all who lives and work in the local area or ‘Primary Substation Area’ (PSA).

The Freeland Energy Group (supported by Freeland Parish Council) are delighted to be part of Eynsham CAPZero to show how local action can contribute to this objective. It is a 26 year project but we must not delay.

Colin Smith, Freeland Energy Group

There is an enormous amount of detailed work behind this plan, so it gives the local community the confidence to take action in the knowledge that all their actions count in making the rapid move to net zero. It is excellent that after many years of preparatory work the project is supporting meaningful practical action in our area.

Sarah Couch, GreenTEA

Want to get involved in year two? Great!

• Head over to the CAPZero landing page to see what we’re up to and access the full report
• Join the CAPZero newsletter
• Get in touch – if you have questions or want to know more, drop us a line.