News and blogs

Energy Local Totnes: enhancing the local benefit from renewables in the south west

Introduction In 2022, with support from Devon County Council’s Post-COVID Economic Recovery Fund, Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) started Energy Local Totnes to further promote local clean power usage and reduce electricity costs for households. This case study highlights TRESOC’s journey to setting up the club and how the group is innovating on the existing Energy Local model to bring more value to local communities. Background TRESOC Totnes Renewable Energy Society is a community organisation Read more…

By George Middlemiss, ago

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Highlighting the desperate need around the country, National Energy Action are once again supporting the sector with #fuelpovertyawarenessday. ECOE and fellow community energy groups in Devon have put together a programme of events as our contribution to this campaign. Drop-in advice clinics in libraries across the county, energy talks, as well as two events (one in person and one on-line) for frontline workers designed to bring together key stakeholders interested to learn more about the Read more…

By Alicia Harding, ago

Devon County Council launches new Community Energy Fund

Devon County Council’s new Community Energy Fund has been set up to support the recovery of Devon’s economy post-pandemic. The key objective of this fund is to support, develop and fund a small number of high-quality Community Energy initiatives that will help to advance and strengthen the Community Energy sector in Devon. Grants up to £25,000 are available for voluntary, community and public-sector organisations across Devon for: skills and training to increase capacity in the Read more…

By Regen Communities, ago

Exeter Community Energy named a finalist in the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising businesses which are transforming society

Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) has been shortlisted in the UK Social Enterprise Award, recognising it as one of the leading social enterprises in the country. ECOE is a finalist in the Environmental Social Enterprise category. It uses income from its ten solar power installations to bring about practical change in our community by addressing energy related challenges. ECOE hopes these sites will return over £170,000 to the community through its community fund over their 20-year lifespans. The Read more…

By Regen Communities, ago

Help ECOE provide emergency support and basic necessities to low income households

Visit ECOE’s Just Giving page to make a donation At Exeter Community Energy, since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, we have seen a threefold increase in the level of requests for support from our Healthy Homes Hardship Fund, which was launched last winter. Our Winter Warmth campaign generated almost £5000 for the Hardship Fund, thanks to the generosity of local residents. This money has been used over the past 6 months to support low income and Read more…

By adminweb, ago

Switching to a renewable electricity supply is so easy

Whether it’s for your home or your business, what used to be out of reach for many of us is now so affordable that you may well end up paying less. You don’t have to install solar panels, a smart meter, or any special gizmos. In fact it’s just the same as switching across to any other electricity supplier – except of course you’ll know that you will also be massively reducing your impact on Read more…

By Sune Nightingale, ago

Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC)

Totnes Renewable Energy Society, TRESOC, was formed in November 2007 by a group of local residents concerned about climate change. It has grown to 550 member shareholders and has a portfolio of projects – stretching from Plymouth to Exeter – that adds up to 47 installations. These include 27 kW at a busy NHS surgery, 7 kW at a community centre and 17.5kW at a residential care home; all of these receive all the solar Read more…

By adminweb, ago

Solar power generation starts at The Beacon and Westbank

Some positive news amid the gloom: ECOE is successfully generating electricity at two new sites – The Beacon Community Centre on Beacon Lane, and Westbank in Exminster. We got the formal certificate of installation for the 29.9kW project at The Beacon on February 12. We then got the certificate for the 45.9kW project at Westbank on March 12, just before the Prime Minister’s statement on COVID-19 on March 16. The sites are generating, and the Read more…

By adminweb, ago

Tara Bowers is named national Heat Hero

The Heat Heroes Awards recognise the achievements of those who have gone above and beyond in their work to help keep people warm in their homes. They are run by charity National Energy Action and supported by the four Gas Distribution Networks – SGN, Cadent, Wales and West Utilities and Northern Gas Networks. Tara fought off stiff competition to be chosen as one of only fourteen Heat Heroes for the work she has been undertaking. Read more…

By Silvia Mills, ago