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We are delighted to announce that we are now partnering, as one of 4 regional community energy nodes, with Big Solar Co-op so that we can begin our ambitious decarbonisation programme by installing solar panels on some of our portfolio of sites in Matlock and the Derbyshire Dales. Instead of raising capital funds to install and manage solar panels on our sites, this will now all be handled by Big Solar Co-op who have already raised nearly £750K, a proportion of which will ramp up our decarbonisation ambitions in Derbyshire. The Big Solar Co-op are a cooperative like us: a not-for-profit, carbon-first and volunteer-led organisation. Importantly they also take the issue of sourcing ethically manufactured solar panels from organisations very seriously: hence they currently use European manufacturers who use hydro powered processes rather than carbon intensive ones.

By working with Big Solar Co-op our collective ambition by 2030 is to install 100MW of rooftop solar along with engaging 250 active volunteers across 25 local groups.  Big Solar Co-op will also create 10 new sustainable jobs along with creating a range of ethical, accessible social investment opportunities raising £25m. They anticipate this will save over £300,000 annually on fuel bills for community buildings and social housing.

We have already identified three local sites where,  along with Big Solar Co-op, Derbyshire Dales Community Energy Ltd has issued a proposal for solar panel installation to the site owners: these sites represent 746kWp of installed capacity, and we also have several other sites that we are continuing to work with to evaluate their suitability. We are aiming to get over 1MWp installed hopefully next year.

Big Solar Co-op already has a community share offer in progress and by investing in this share offer you will be able to support the installation of solar panels on these sites. Investing in the Big Solar Co-op helps to support a genuinely exciting and innovative new model for community rooftop solar – cutting carbon and reducing costs for large energy users across the UK. Big Solar Co-op has already raised over £700,000 from more than 250 investors and their share offer has been extended until 10 December 2022. There is a minimum investment of £100, a target annual return of 4% and investors become members of the Big Solar co-op. For more information please read their share offer document.

DDCE are pleased to announce that we are now partnering with Big Solar Co-op: they will raise finance, install solar panels on buildings and manage them for the lifetime of the solar panels.

The Big Solar Co-op are a cooperative like us. They are a not-for-profit, carbon-first and volunteer-led organisation. They already have a community share offer in progress and our local community members will be able to invest in their share offer.

DDCE now have three local sites where Big Solar Co-op have issued a proposal: these sites represent 746kWp of installed capacity, and we also have a number of other sites that we are continuing to work with. By investing in Big Solar Co-op, you will be able to support the installation of solar panels on these sites.

Big Solar Co-op has already raised over £700,000 from more than 250 investors and the share offer has been extended until 10 December 2022 – so there isn’t much time left to put your money to work for positive change.

• Minimum investment £100 
• Target annual return 4%
• Investors become members of the Big Solar co-op
• Read our share offer document 

Big Solar Co-op are running a zoom meeting on how their share offer works, and answer any questions you may have.

Date: Thursday 1 December
Time: 12.30 to 13.30
Zoom Link: Join here

You’ll be welcome to ask questions during the session, but if you want to submit your questions in advance, please email them directly: info@bigsolar.coop

DDCE’s John Taylor Promotes Community Energy to the House of Lords 

Our Board member John was invited to speak to the House of Lords about their experiences with low carbon heating solutions and the boiler replacement scheme. John recounted his experiences negotiating home energy improvements with local councils and contractors and called for an increase in grant support:

”The main problem for people will be the finances. New properties are being built and they ort to automatically have heat pumps built in”

John has insulated his house extensibly, installed an air source heat pump to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and installed solar panels to generate his own green electricity. He also used the opportunity to sing the praises of community energy and Derbyshire Dales Community Energy’ plans. The House of Lords committee praised DDCE’s work which is :

‘’Leading the shift to green energy generation in the Derbyshire dales and reinvesting profits into the local community’’.

Weldone John for using this opportunity to promote community energy and DDCE to the House of Lords! What an amazing opportunity to share the vital work we’ve been doing with a captive and influential audience.

For more information on the boiler replacement scheme head to the government website :
https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
Follow us here at our website or on twitter @DDEnergyD for updates on our project!

Cromford Mill and the Arkwright Society’s big Hydro Plans

Another group doing some amazing work are our friends at the Arkwright Society and Cromford Mills ( yet another excellent Derbyshire based renewable energy project).

Cromford Mills, built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright, once  boasted the world’`s first water powered cotton spinning mill. It now has plans to reinstate this water wheel to generate renewable electricity.  The historic cotton spinning mill used water from the Bonsall Brook and Cromford Sough to turn three water wheels during the 18th  and 19th  Century. Now, that same green energy that Arkwright harnessed from the Bonsall Brook will once again provide energy and heat to the popular tourist attraction located in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site.

The Arkwright Society have successfully been able to work with funders and partners to secure funding and assist the development of the project. Severn Trent, Derbyshire County Council’s Green Entrepreneurs Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, Valliant, RCEF, Derwent Hydro and James Boon Architects are supporting Cromford Mills and the return of hydro power to the local area.

The Cromford Waterpower project will reinstate a large 6m waterwheel and install a 15kW hydro-turbine to power the mill buildings. The scheme will also include water source heat pumps to provide heating to the site and will refurbish the hydro-turbine located at the Corn Mill in Cromford Village which will offer a renewed source of renewable energy to the village. It is amazing that we can look back at historical innovations for relevant and viable solutions to our current climate crisis. 

For more on Cromford Mills head over to their website:
https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/

And find out more about this project here:
https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/hydro-power-project/
And here :
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/research-areas/energy-institute/work-with-us/case-studies/cromford-mill/the-future-of-hydroelectric-power-at-cromford-mills.aspx

Energy Garden Share Offer

Our friends at Energy Garden are having an event promoting their most recent share offer. It will be an evening to celebrate Londoners coming together to invest in the future of community-owned renewable energy.

Energy Garden supports communities to deliver gardens and solar projects on London’s railways. Combining community ownership, renewable energy generation, education and biodiversity, the Energy Garden model is innovative and exciting. To help you understand what is truly extraordinary about them, check out this article by Ethex on Energy Garden – ‘’five facts about this groundbreaking community organisation’’.

https://www.ethex.org.uk/news/5-things-you-should-know-about-energy-garden

Find out how Energy Garden is using revenues from the sale of community-owned, clean energy to fund gardens and youth training programmes in London. Join them at the London Transport Museum’s Cubic Theatre & Foyer for snacks and Energy Garden Ale, and short panel discussions on the future of community climate action. All welcome!

Sign up to the event here :

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-garden-share-offer-event-tickets-451833615507
To learn more about energy Garden follow this link:
https://www.energygarden.org.uk/