The report “Get connected: How community energy can turbocharge the transition” published by the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee of the House of Commons suggests that community ownership of energy resources is in danger of being left behind in the transition unless the Department takes urgent action which will have two direct consequences: areas which host large scale renewable projects see pylons but none of the profits from renewables and public support for the 2030 targets and for the renewable sector will disappear. The report further recommends the UK Government to use the Energy Independence Bill currently before Parliament to unlock community ownership as a key part of the transition and energy security of the UK.

Key recommendations from the report includes:

  • Prioritise existing community-owned projects in the grid connection queue by designating community energy as a strategic priority and directing regulators and network distributors to remove barriers to connections.
  • Implement existing legislation to give communities and/or municipalities the right to take a minimum 20 per cent stake in onshore and offshore renewable projects in their local area and incentivise commercial developers to engage with community organisations and to lift the minimum stake which developers must offer from 5 per cent to 20 per cent. 
  • Change planning laws to ensure that community share and enhanced community benefits are material considerations in planning applications for commercial renewable projects. 
  • Give Ofgem a deadline to devise a clear definition of community energy projects so that it can be included in the Energy Independence Bill. 
  • Instruct GB Energy to act on the Energy Secretary’s letter of instruction and provide financial, legal and technical expertise at scale to community energy initiatives. 
  • The Government produces, within six months, a regulatory framework to allow community energy generators to sell electricity to local consumers. 
  • The Government establishes a framework which outlines a clear set of roles and responsibilities for the relevant companies, regulatory bodies, agencies and organisations within the sector to achieve the 8GW target. 

Access the report here