Why is energy important?
Renewable energy from wind and solar is now cheaper than coal and gas to produce. Yet the UK needs to produce up to 7x more than it currently does if we’re to wean ourselves off fossil fuels for good.
51 GWh of renewable energy is produced each year in Bury. That’s enough to provide electricity for 17,601 typical homes. 89 GWh of renewable energy should be generated in Bury by 2030 if the official national target is to be met. Source: Friends of the Earth.
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What can I do in my community?
👀 We’re still looking for community projects related to renewable energy in Bury. 👀
If you know of one please let us know. Or set one up using the resources below!
Setting up community-led renewable energy projects
Sharenergy helps communities to set up and own renewable energy societies.
The European Community Power Coalition, Practical Handbook. You too can start your very own community energy project and be part of this quiet revolution.
Community Energy Coalition: Manifesto for a community energy revolution
Community Energy England: Community Energy England was founded in 2014 by practitioners within the community energy sector to act as the voice of the sector and help put people at the heart of the energy system
REScoop.eu actively supports starting energy communities. Starters can get inspired by our Community Energy Guide packed with instructions, practical tips, powerful success stories and invaluable resources to build a local, community- led renewable energy revolution.
What can I do as an individual?
Trust Renewables Ltd is a domestic, commercial & industrial, and utility scale solar PV installer and project developer that predominantly works in the 10 boroughs of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It is a a Social Enterprise and member of Social Enterprise UK, committed to reinvesting over 50% of their profits to social, economic and environmental missions.
Our Energy section focuses on what Bury could do to generate its own power. For advice on saving energy, please see our ‘Green Homes’ page.
Switching to a clean energy provider: https://bigcleanswitch.org/bury/
What are the Council doing about energy?
The Greater Manchester Local Energy Market set out a Local Area Energy Plan for Bury in June 2021. Suitable low-carbon energy supplies for Bury include offshore wind and solar power. Energy from wind such as wind turbines was not recommended for the Bury area due to limited space. Areas in North Bury such as Tottington have been identified as potential locations for domestic heat pumps.
The Council has set a number of actions around energy in its Climate Action Plan (pg 9-11):
- Delivering local exemplar projects demonstrating renewable heat and energy systems in Six Town Housing properties
- Retrofitting Council-owned assets with renewable heat and energy systems
- Procuring the Council’s electricity from renewable sources
- Working with our business community to develop a robust network of service providers that can deliver new renewable heat and energy systems
- Incorporating considerations around carbon-neutrality into Council decision-making processes
- Producing an annual greenhouse gas report on emissions relating to Council operations
- Setting measurable indicators to monitor progress towards our 2038 carbon-neutral target
- Aligning all Council plans and policies with our 2038 carbon-neutral target
- Investigating the feasibility of renewable energy systems (hydro, solar, wind) generation within Bury
- Working with local communities to provide more information on options available relating to renewable heat and energy systems
- Many of these actions are in the early stages or yet to start. Contact your local Councillor to find out what they are doing to support these actions.
What’s happening in other towns?
Carbon Co-op Oldham Energy Futures The Energy Commons team will work with two neighbourhoods in Oldham; Sholver and Westwood, to discover, shape, test and own plans and projects designed to transform their neighbourhood. The aim of this project is to empower Oldham communities to shape their future energy system. Find out more about Oldham Energy Futures on the Carbon Co-op website or via the dedicated Oldham Futures website.
Theme 3 in their best practice section has some great information on community energy (https://oldhamenergyfutures.carbon.coop/learning-best-practice/ ) there are additional resources linked at the end of the section. The videos show presentations to their groups from Repowering London, and Kate Gilmartin from the Rural Energy Fund.
York Community Energy has some interesting work going on https://yorkcommunityenergy.org.uk/energy-cafe-2-a-super-talk-on-super-insulation/
Plymouth Community Energy is a great example of how a group has trained to deliver advice and support in the community: https://plymouthenergycommunity.com/residents/private-tenants
Resources
The Carbon Trust’s Renewable Energy Guide
Centre for Sustainable Energy Renewable Energy Advice
https://www.lowcarbonhub.org/about/
Carbon Coop run regular skillshare events on topics such as retrofit, home energy and data tracking: https://carbon.coop/events/list/
There is a great article on the BBC about community energy: Can a community energy group help cut your bills? – BBC News