Ynni’r FroYnni Adnewyddol ar raddfa gymunedol

Community Scale Renewable Energy generation

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE

To encourage and support local communities to take advantage of the potential to generate income from

local resources and create substantial long-term income for themselves

European Competitiveness and Convergence funding

with Welsh Assembly Government support

5 year programme (currently end Yr 1)

Supports Community Scale Renewable Energy

Schemes owned by community groups and social

enterprises

Main Targets: Income generation, job creation,

energy generation

Ynni’r Fro Targets

Assist social enterprises to deliver schemes

Generate income

Create businesses and jobs

Reduce carbon emissions

Provide training

THREE SUPPORT STREAMS...

TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORTED

Hydropower

Wind

Anaerobic Digestion

Development Officers:

Project management support Technical expertise Capacity-building Community engagement Liaison with external groups Encouragement Access to grants Explore funding options

Preparatory Costs Grants of up to £30,000 Approximately 135 grants (10 in competitiveness)

Feasibility studiesEnvironmental surveysPermissionsCommunity engagement

Capital Funding

Grants or Loans* of up to £300,000

Normally up to 38%

Approximately 22 grants

2 in competitiveness

Woodfuel projects –

WEBS II

* New – due to be introduced due to complications with FITs, Grants and State Aid rules

Who can apply?Social enterprisesExamples:

Community Interest Company Industrial and Provident Society Company limited by guarantee or shares Limited liability partnership Registered charity

What are the benefits and drivers?

Financial – introduction of FITs has made large community scheme highly lucrative

Community ownership – control of own resources, finances and additional community benefits

Renewable Energy Generation – reducing carbon footprints and acting as a focus for wider community carbon saving activities

Cash Cows – providing income for other community projects – reducing reliance on grants

What are the barriers?

Public Perception – especially to wind power

Finance – prior to gaining planning permission

Timescales – schemes take a long time, it’s tough!

Permits and Planning – take time, lack of understanding and complicated (seemingly)

Confidence – it is a big undertaking

How Ynni’r Fro is addressing

these...

Opportunities for Renewables

Studies to identify potential sites for Hydro and Wind schemes by Evironment Agency, Welsh Water, Forestry Commission, British Waterways, WAG.

Joint Ventures with public and private bodies and landowners

The National Trust/ British Waterways Private landowners Private Industry Local Councils

Increasing support and awareness

Liaising with statutory consultees and planners to raise awareness of community renewable energy scheme

Networking – bringing together stakeholders to share information

Support – uniting communities to share their experiences and support each other

Advice – providing technical advice and support Community and Media engagement – breaking down the

perceived barriers

Key Lessons...

Local support is important – provides local knowledge,

understanding and trust

Communities that start with smaller, more manageable

projects (allotments, energy efficiency, village

hall/school/church) have more success with larger more

complicated schemes

Important to be inclusive, build on successes and gain

credibility within the community

Llangattock Green Valleys• Delivering a Carbon Negative Community• Litter Pickers - 230 bags of litter and 96 tyres in 2009!• Biodiesel Club - distributed over 11,500 litres of biodiesel in 2010.• Micro-Hydro - 94 kW generated from six schemes – going in now• LACAS - 47 allotments growing their own food and providing a

place to meet and socialise in the community.• Woodlands Group - 120 acres of woodlands under management,

locally sourced wood fuel supply and promoting biodiversity.• School & Community Hall - New heating systems, loft insulation

and 4.32kWp Solar PV system. • Residential Group - 55 Residential solar PV schemes• Plans for - Bio-Heating Fuel Club, Community Pub & Shop, Micro-

Wind and A 1MW Anaerobic Digestion project!

Newtown Hydro 100kW Archimedes screw hydro on a weir

Currently have legal agreement with British Waterways and are starting detailed feasibility

Community group fought for this scheme with a private developer and won!

Group has secured a loan for the scheme and once built will issue shares to release capital to fund other schemes.

Newtown Hydro

Gwent Levels Turbines

2-3 2MW Turbines

Currently has exclusivity agreements with landowners

Early stages – just about to start detailed feasibility

Wider community support but already a strong anti-lobby from the adjacent community at Redwick!

What’s Happening Already?

Some Schemes in Competitiveness Areas: 1MW AD – Joint Venture 100kW Hydro on British Waterways site 30kW Hydro – Tintern Angiddy Project (TAP) 4-6MW Wind Scheme (Probable JV) 250kW Farmer/Transition Group Wind 1MW Hydro (JV community and private) Lots of speculative/early stage schemes

To find out more please contact the TDOs and we will be happy to discuss the schemes in more

detail!

SIMONE LOWTHE-THOMAS

SIMONE @ SWEA.CO.UK