The story of a renewable energy community coop and the limits to growth

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The story of a renewable energy community co-op
and the limits to growth
Annette Heslop Richard Scott Baywind Energy
Co-op Ltd Pennington, Cumbria
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Acting locally

• Local initiatives for renewable energy can help
  fill the supply gap in the next two decades
• Community energy co-operatives are working in
  Denmark, Sweden, Cumbria and Wales
• Barriers to development are inhibiting progress
  in the the UK
• Financing community enterprises can be done
  through the co-op model
• Community involvement is important
• Unrealized potential for growth

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BAYWIND ENERGY CO-OPERATIVE LTD The first
UK Community Energy co-operative company to own
and run commercial wind turbines. Founded in 1997
at Pennington, Ulverston, Cumbria
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The co-op model

• In Denmark 150000 families are members of energy
  co-ops
• In the UK there are only 3 energy co-ops
• Typically members do not expect to redeem their
  shareholding
• Baywinds model assumes that members keep their
  money in until the end of the project lifetime of
  20 years
• All members have an equal vote at the AGM
  irrespective of size of holding
• Farmers are familiar with the co-op principles

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Two of our shareholders
They want action and cash return is not a a
priority
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Reasons for Renewable Energy generation

• Sustainable sources, not exhausted
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Potential for major accidents reduced
• Scope for local ownership and operation

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Harlock Hill, Pennington

• Location Pennington, near Ulverston, Cumbria
• 5 x 500 kW turbines
• Operational January 1997
• NFFO 3 contract - guaranteed price for
  electricity - 6p/unit
• Site produces electricity for about 1,400 homes
• Employs 2 people

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Haverigg II Site

• Location Haverigg, Millom
• 4 x 600 kW Turbines
• Fully operational July 98
• NFFO 3 contract.
• Each turbine produces enough electricity for
  about 380 homes

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More reasons for local energy sources

• Connect to low voltage grid, reducing
  transmission losses
• Financial rewards enter the local economy
  directly
• Technical skills spread widely in the community

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Community gains

• An educational resource
• A source of pride
• Benefit to the local economy

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Steps to development

• Identification of potential sites
• Assessment of potential from wind data
• Complete environmental impact assessment
• Consents from grid, MoD, telecoms etc
• Planning permission from local authority
• Get finance
• Negotiate agreements
• Build site
• Begin operation

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Reasons for objection

• Visual intrusion
• Noise
• Reduction of property value
• Scaring horses
• Inefficient means of energy production
• Outsiders over-riding local interests
• Bird kill
• Habitat loss
• Vegetation change
• Spreading foot mouth disease!

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Limitations to development

• Heritage landscape
• Proximity to housing
• Telecommunication lines
• Loss of sensitive or scarce habitat

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Future resources

• We think there is considerable scope for further
  expansion of onshore wind energy in rural areas
  of UK
• Smallscale hydro also has potential
• Biomass could be a significant local supply of
  electricity, heat and transport fuel and a valued
  source of new income for landowners

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Consequences of inaction

• Finite stocks of fossil fuels run out with
  adverse effects on world economy
• Greenhouse gas build-up increases problems of
  storms, flooding and inundation of coastal land
• Marginal farms go into further economic decline
  and need increased subsidies

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Conclusions

• Unless renewables are expanded government must
  maintain generating capacity of nuclear and
  fossil fuels for 20 years more and commission new
  plant
• Climate change will continue at an accelerating
  rate unless carbon sequestration is implemented
  worldwide
• It may be too late status quo is not an option
• Landscape change is preferable to the
  consequences of inaction