Local community anaerobic digestion and biomass plants could receive a boost as part of the UK’s first ever Community Energy Strategy.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey has launched a call for evidence on how local people can benefit from community renewable energy facilities.
The idea behind the call for evidence is that community groups will be able to develop local electricity and heat projects to take control of their own energy supplies and benefit from existing schemes such as the Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive.
Technologies that already benefit from these funding schemes would be included in the Community Energy Strategy, which would include anaerobic digestion and biomass plants.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change wants views from community groups, local councils, financiers and other stakeholders on how local people can introduce energy efficiency measures or generate their own energy.
Ed Davey said: “Community groups know their local area best, so I want to see them taking control of their own energy projects, generating their own power and shielding themselves against the rising cost of wholesale energy prices.
“This type of collective action has great benefits for local economies, creating jobs, offering the opportunity to develop new skills and injecting investment across the country.
“That’s why we set out a clear commitment to supporting community energy in the Coalition Agreement. Later this year, we will publish a Community Energy Strategy, setting out our vision, and a clear plan of action for making it happen.”
