News & Articles on Community Power
Developing renewable energy on the scale needed to make the energy transition will require public acceptance. Unlike nuclear power, where society can force a single plant on a community for the benefit of society at large, renewable energy will have to become ubiquitous in our communities and on our landscapes. This can only be possible when the majority accept this transformation. Experience has taught that acceptance is greatest when neighbors and the community at large can participate in the renewable energy revolution. The beauty of renewable energy is that everyone can take part–and own a stake in their future–when given an opportunity to do so. The challenge is creating the policies that make this possible, whether it’s for a community wind project or a solar garden.
Why Germans are bemused by Australia’s wind turbine terror
By
Ketan Joshi
Germany, as it happens, has a very strong culture of benefit sharing. I had a chat to my host about my experience on the outskirts of Ebersheim. She told me about a neighbour in the small town who owns shares in those very turbines, and has been making money off them, and he loves them.
Community wind farm in Bavaria
By
Craig Morris
Bavaria has implemented draconian conditions for new wind farms. At Starnberger Lake, a mayor and his community have rushed to complete a wind farm before the new stipulations take effect. The story shows that not all Bavarians support their state government’s stance on wind power.
Social acceptance is the invisible barrier for wind power in Mexico
By
Juan Mayorga
The most challenging hurdle that the Mexican wind sector faces is the engagement with the local populations that own the land where major wind parks are intended to be set up.
Luxembourg reaches 4.1% renewable energy share in 2013-14
By
Tsvetomira Tsanova
The country recently announced plans to expand its feed-in tariff (FiT) support scheme to include new photovoltaic (PV) and wind categories from January 1, 2016. Thus it aims to foster growth of community projects with capacity of 30 kW to 200 kW.
Guide to Community-Owned Renewable Energy for Victorians (Australia)
By
The Victorian Government has produced a guide to give communities information about developing community-owned renewable energy projects.
Bristol Energy Co-op launches ambitious £2.8 million community energy offer
By
Liam Stoker
The co-op is looking to develop two separate ground-mount projects – a 4.2MW solar farm near Avonmouth and a 4.6MW project near Puriton in Somerset – as well as a 500kW portfolio of rooftop installations throughout the city.
A German energy crowd-funding start-up that aims to make community energy easy
By
Chris Cooper
Dr Peer Piske founded Berlin based energy crowdfunding start-up, CrowdEner.gywith the aim to create a platform which would let all Germans access community energy investment projects.
British Feed-in tariff community and school applications’: September 2015
By
Number of community and school installations (and associated capacity), split by type of accreditation granted, at the end of the latest quarter.
The co-benefits of community energy
By
Craig Morris
A full description would include mention of community-building as a main driver behind such projects. Western societies are increasingly isolating. Community projects bring people together again.
Community Distributed Wind Provides Local Benefits
By
Community distributed wind projects offer investment and returns back to the local community of a wind farm. Alice Orrell of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory explains what community wind and distributed wind mean.
