The purpose of this ‘conference of practitioners’ was to share learning on practical issues and opportunities arising from emerging post-FiTs business models for community energy groups. We focused on emerging business models for onshore wind, energy services, domestic roof-top solar, EV chargepoints and heat pumps.
Watch the recording of this event
For each of the main business models, there was a short presentation from a current project setting out pointers for other groups considering a similar model. Then there was discussion, with input from a range of practitioners and specialists in that topic area, to allow discussion of business model assumptions, legal issues, typical hurdles and ways of overcoming them.
• Session 1 (13.00-13.30) – introduction from Emma Bridge at Community Energy England, with update from Bristol Energy Network on onshore wind, project C.H.E.E.S.E. and energy services provision for Bristol City Council
• Session 2 (13.30-14.15) – domestic roof-top solar. Introductory presentations by Chris Stuart-Bennett (Lockleaze Loves Solar) and Gill Fenna (Burneside Community Energy) on pointers for domestic solar projects, followed by practitioner discussion which will include insights from Sonya Bedford (Stephens Scown).
• Session 3 (14.20-15.05) - electric vehicle charge points. Introductory presentations from Catherine Allinson (Nadder Community Energy) and Damian Tow (Brighton Energy Coop) on pointers for EV chargepoint and car club initiatives, followed by practitioner discussion which will include Daniel Heery (Charge My Street) and Sonya Bedford.
• Session 4 (15.10-16.00)– heat pump projects. Introductory presentation by Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Coop) on pointers for potential heat pump projects, followed by practitioner discussion, with the Jonathan plus Toby Costin (CREW), Alex Hartley (CREW/SELCE), Alison Turnbull (Bath and West Community Energy) and Sonya Bedford.