Last updated: 13th January 2025
Back in 2022, we received a grant from Derbyshire County Council to enable us to establish the Derbyshire Community Energy Hub – a network to support the growth of community energy in Derbyshire. There are now 20 groups within the county – possibly the most in any county in England!
The Hub provides local groups with opportunities for knowledge-sharing via bi-monthly Zoom meetings (6 per year), as well as coordinating in-person events and providing ad hoc support to further members’ work. Together we advocate for community energy and work on collaborative projects.
The 20 groups are:
- Bakewell Climate Action
- Baslow Environment Group
- Belper Clusters Heritage Group
- Belper Community Energy
- Birch Vale Community Energy
- Bonsall Energy Group
- Brassington Community Heating
- Calver Weir hydro project
- Cromford Mills (Arkwright Society) & Cromford Water Power CIC
- Darley Abbey Community Energy
- Darley Dale Town Council
- Derbyshire Dales Community Energy (DDCE)
- Hope Valley Climate Action (HVCA)
- Hope Valley Community Energy
- Horsley Woodhouse Parish Council
- Matlock Bath community energy (newly formed!)
- Slaley Community Environment Group
- Sustainable Hayfield
- Tideswell & District Environment Group
- Transition Buxton
The groups are working on a range of different projects. Some focus on energy efficiency and retrofitting, particularly for households in rural or fuel-poor areas; some focus on low carbon heating systems, such as district heat networks; and others focus on renewable electricity generation via solar, wind or hydro power. Several of the groups are currently running CEF-funded projects: read a bit about them here.
You can find a report detailing the projects in the first year of the Hub (2022-23) here.
If you’re thinking of setting up a community energy group, or would like to chat to any Hub members, please email derbyshiredalescommunityenergy@gmail.com and we’d be delighted to help.
Collaborative Hub Projects
More information coming soon!
Upcoming Events
Next Hub meeting: Wednesday 15th January, 5-6pm, Zoom
Community Groups for Climate Change: Friday 7th February, 10am-3pm, Derby
Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire County Councils are hosting a free event focused on community climate change action. The event will bring together community groups, local authorities, the East Midlands Combined Authority and other interested parties to discuss how they can work together and build capacity to tackle climate change and the wider sustainability agenda. There will be several keynote presentations and six “world café” style table discussions with experts and case studies on the following topics:
- community funding
- decarbonising local community buildings and residential homes
- creating feasibility studies & funding bids
- engaging local communities
- scaling up community groups
- sustainable transport & mobility.
Book your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/innovateukfastfollowersproject/1513660.