Kemble and Ewen Community Energy
Thanks to Kemble resident Julie Hammerton, working with Mike McKeown and the rest of the Thames Head Community Energy Champions we are bringing community energy to Kemble and Ewen
Background
Thames Head Energy is a community social enterprise, a form of not-for-profit for communities. It started in the Parish of Somerford Keynes with support from the parish council and Cotswold District Council and is now expanding to Kemble and Ewen. It is focused on delivering lower-cost and renewable energy solutions to the community. Helping us reduce our energy costs, cut our carbon footprint and raise money for our community.
As we go into this winter facing an energy crisis, and one that is likely to persist through next winter and beyond, it feels like our work has become more important than ever.
Why community energy?
As well as reducing our carbon footprint we can:
1. Raise money for the community – potentially via a community solar farm. 100% of profits would be dedicated to the community (worth £10,000s per year)
2. Reduce our electricity costs – potentially through a solar farm and our ‘solar+batteries for homes’ bulk purchase scheme
3. Move to renewable heating – either through a renewable community heat network or bulk buying heat pumps for homes
Projects
Our work is split into three projects for the community:
A group solar/batteries/EV charger purchase, where you can sign up for a group purchase of solar energy systems with optional batteries and EV chargers for individual households. We have shortlisted two potential suppliers and expect to start installing in 2023; The scheme removes the hassle of choosing a supplier, will provide clear guidelines on the best system for your home, provides a group purchase discount and could dramatically reduce your electricity costs and carbon footprint.
A community-owned solar farm, the location of which we will choose together as a community to ensure it doesn’t spoil the views of our lovely countryside. 100% of the profits would come to the community, potentially £10,000s per year. The Energy Local model could reduce individual homes’ electricity bills by 10-30%.
A community-based heating solution, where we are undertaking initial feasibility studies with specialist company Kensa and looking at both heat pump and community heat network solutions as a replacement for oil heating. When combined with solar solutions this has the potential to reduce heating costs and the over 3,000 tonnes per year of community carbon emissions from electricity and oil usage.
Next Steps
The next steps to progress community energy in Kemble and Ewen are:
A community meeting we will be arranging soon where you can come and hear about the plans, ask questions and share your views – date and venue coming soon. In the meantime take a look around this website for more information.
We’d really appreciate some of you joining the community energy champions group to help us develop and progress the plan for Kemble and Ewen. If you are interested and would like to learn more please email Julie Hammerton.