A new State of the Sector in Wales report by Community Energy Wales last month has highlighted the opportunities for people to cut bills and for communities to benefit as Wales ends its dependence on fossil fuels.
Community energy allows people to gain benefit as we stop using fossil fuels to heat and power our lives. Community ownership of solar panels, wind turbines and hydro projects create long-term income for communities that can be used to develop further community initiatives. All profits from community owned projects are reinvested to develop the community they are located in.
The new report shows that funds from community energy projects have been used to support new green jobs in Welsh communities, reduce fuel poverty and create projects that provide well-being, educational, economic and social benefits. These include e-biking schemes in Bethesda, energy saving advice in Pembrokeshire, and climate assemblies in Gwynedd.
More and more communities want to be a part of the community energy movement, seeing it as a way to invigorate their local community and tackle climate change. Unfortunately, many are held back by unnecessary barriers that are limiting the expansion of the sector. The report shows that finding early-stage funding for new projects is a challenge, and a lack of investment and backlogs in the electricity grid is stopping communities from benefiting from the opportunity.
Community Energy Wales are demanding the right to local trade for communities, so that communities can make empowered choices when buying and selling locally produced energy. This would lead to stable long-term energy prices for community owned energy projects and their local customers, as well as energy security, reduced infrastructure costs, and the expansion of the community energy sector.
Ben Ferguson and Leanne Wood, Co-executive Directors of Community Energy Wales said,
“We are at a fundamental moment. The decarbonisation of our energy system and the end of fossil fuels provides a host of opportunities for communities in Wales. Communities are best placed to lead this change. We as a country must grab hold of these opportunities now, to ensure that the benefits from them are retained in Wales, and are felt in our communities for generations to come.”
