Company aims to boost community renewables schemes

A new not-for-profit company has been launched to help community-based renewable energy projects get off the ground.
Communities for Renewables CIC was formally launched at the Renewable Energy Marketplace event in Exeter on 8 March and aims to help communities attract social and commercial investment for green energy projects and ensure as much as possible is passed back to locals.
It can act as a development partner for projects, as well as providing technical advice on a range of areas, including planning and tender negotiations and site assessment.
CfR says landowners with suitable sites for hosting a community renewable energy project, will be offered “an income that is competitive with commercial developers, and fair option and lease terms”. It also promises to involve landowners in key decisions over the design, construction and operation of the project.
A new website has been set up to provide background information on different technologies and how to get involved with CfR. It also features a tool for users to assess their local resources.
The company was established by independent renewable energy experts Regen SW and specialist developers Green Trust CIC.
“We have seen an extraordinary flowering of community groups who want to harness their natural resources to generate their own energy and make their communities more resilient and prosperous,” Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen SW, said. “Communities for Renewables has been set up to work in partnership with ambitious communities to make these aspirations a reality.”
Interested landowners are advised to apply to work through CfR to deliver their project. See http://communities4renewables.co.uk