What is the issue?
Energy makes up almost 10% of budgets in ‘fuel poor’ households but those on the lowest incomes are among the least likely to switch supplier. Renewable energy generators are also trapped in the unfairness of the energy market, forced to sell the energy they produce to the grid for an unsustainably low price. What if there were a way to link consumers to community renewable energy to solve some of these problems?
What will the project try to achieve?
This project will build energy resilience for residents of a majority social housing block in Brixton, London, who are at risk of fuel poverty. The building already has solar panels on the roof generating income for a community fund. We will help residents form an energy club to benefit from the cheaper daytime electricity generated by the panels.
Residents will save on their bills, whilst paying the community renewable energy provider more. This way, the whole local community benefits.
A local energy rollout could transform our energy infrastructure into one that uses renewable energy more effectively, decreasing environmentally damaging emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This is the power of energy and communities getting together and working together for social, economic and environmental benefit.
Who might be interested in the project?
Policy makers, regulators, public sector organisations, community energy groups, energy sector organisations, distribution network operators, fuel poverty and energy resilience organisations.