Transition Belper Wins ‘Community Energy Challenge’ Funding
Tue, 3 July 2012
Transition Belper in Derbyshire has won a share of £200,000 worth of support to help develop community-owned renewable energy projects. The group is one of just seven in the UK to win a national competition, set up by the Co-operative and the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE). The aim is to energise the community-owned energy sector and bring about a clean energy revolution across the UK.
The Co-operative wants to see a dramatic increase in community owned renewable energy generation and hope that the winning communities will demonstrate replicable technologies and the benefits of community ownership that can leave a lasting legacy for the next generation.
The expertise and support, which will include specialist mentoring, enterprise development and technical advice, will help the group to explore and develop community-owned and run hydro power projects in the Derwent Valley world heritage corridor between Cromford and Derby. The Community Energy Challenge will nurture community projects until they are ready for further investment and build. They will then be eligible for other assistance from The Co-operative including The Co-operative Enterprise Hub’s revolving £400,000 fund to underwrite community share offers, and finance from The Co-operative Bank which has ear-marked £100 million for community renewables.
www.transition belper.org