Parish Power: project to help communities save energy

A wet, wet walk in Randwick woods this afternoon (see photos) and a cosy afternoon catching up on paperwork. One project that has at last come alive again is Parish Power - a project to help communities save energy.

I have already raised this with the two Parishes in this area last year and there was some interest but Government funding apparently collapsed and we heard no more....now it's back and I'll be raising it again.

Is there anyone out there locally who would be happy to help or other Parishes in the District?

What is Parish Power??

Severn Wye Energy Agency has been seeking funding to follow up the Parish Power feasibility study completed a year ago.

The Parish Power project aim was to work with 10-15 Parish based Energy Groups with a target to save 10% of the energy use within participating households over a 2 year period. The energy savings would be monitored and with a total of 300 participating households would be worth approximately £30,000 pa in reduced fuel bills, in addition to the environmental benefits of reduced CO2 emissions. The Parish Power project would provide extra assistance to the participating communities as exemplars that other householders could follow.

We are pleased to let you know that Severn Wye Energy Agency has recently secured approximately £40,000 of European funding over 2.5 years under the Intelligent Energy Europe programme to cover 50% of staff costs etc for a new project called “Energy Neighbourhoods” which is very similar to Parish Power. It includes setting up community energy groups and monitoring energy saving in participating households with a target of 8% energy savings per year at the end of the project. “Energy Neighbourhoods” is interesting as there will be similar energy saving groups in 8 other European countries and an opportunity to compare results and successes through a common website (in English). We will also be provided with computer software to monitor energy savings based on a pilot project in Holland. There will also be local and international awards for the most successful energy saving community.

We are presently negotiating the final details of the project, however it is hoped “Energy Neighbourhoods” will start in September 2007. We are offering the Parishes who expressed an interest in Parish Power the first option to participate in “Energy Neighbourhoods”. Since the EU will only cover 50% of eligible costs we will continue to seek local match funding. If this is not forthcoming by September we may need to give preference to those Parishes that are able to make a small contribution to the costs of delivering the project, estimated at £1000 - £2000 per participating Parish per year, depending on the size of the Parish and number of households that wish to join the community energy group. The long term financial benefits in reduced fuel bills are anticipated to be many times greater than the contribution towards project costs. We are also aware that many individuals now accept the need to combat climate change and wish to do something at a community level.

If you would like to find out more information or your Parish wishes to participate in “Energy Neighbourhoods” please can you contact in the first instance Kaye Welfare, Assistant Director at Severn Wye Energy Agency at: kaye(at)swea.co.uk