The community has its own solar power generation system

Are solar PV systems a viable alternative to community energy?

Many projects were saved by solar PV prices falling steadily until systems became viable if organisations hosting them paid for the electricity. Community energy grew, and in 2015 there were thought to be 150-200 community energy organisations, owning solar, wind, hydro and biomass boilers.

How can community solar transform the energy industry?

Community solar provides a framework to transform the energy industry by combining group ownership, the imperative to decarbonize, and discounts of bulk-purchases, with proven and continually improving technology. Community solar is transforming the energy industry from the bottom-up. However, it is disruptive to the status quo.

Can a community energy project survive without government funding?

The third phase will need to survive without government funding, which is feasible in some cases now that the costs of solar installation have drastically reduced and because renewables are no longer a niche energy source. The Repowering London example is a typical illustration of what makes community energy projects successful.

Why is community solar important?

Community solar adds an important dimension in the transition to decarbonized energy: the power of collective action. The outcome is local participation in energy generation, which makes it possible for everybody to join the solar revolution: renters, apartment dwellers, and others who cannot, for one reason or another, install rooftop solar.

Where do community energy societies come from?

There are community energy societies all over the UK – from the southern tip of Cornwall to the Shetlands Islands in the North of the UK. The first generation of these projects tended to be started by a group of people, perhaps in a small town, who saw the need for renewable energy in their neighbourhood, and were often large wind turbines.

Should the government help local communities generate their own energy?

A recent poll by Co-op Energy found that a record high of 82% of respondents think the government should do more to help local communities generate their own energy, and 69% think the government should offer tax relief to those individuals who take the risk of investing in community energy.