1. Ynni’r Fro Ynni Adnewyddol ar raddfa gymunedol Community Scale Renewable Energy generation

2. WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE To encourage and support local communities to take advantage of the potential to generate income from local resources and create substantial long-term income for themselves

3.  European Competitiveness and Convergence funding with Welsh Assembly Government support  5 year programme (currently end Yr 1)  Supports Community Scale Renewable Energy Schemes owned by community groups and social enterprises  Main Targets: Income generation, job creation, energy generation

4. Ynni’r Fro Targets  Assist social enterprises to deliver schemes  Generate income  Create businesses and jobs  Reduce carbon emissions  Provide training THREE SUPPORT STREAMS... TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORTED Hydropower Wind Anaerobic Digestion

5. Development Officers:  Project management support  Technical expertise  Capacity-building  Community engagement  Liaison with external groups  Encouragement  Access to grants  Explore funding options

6. Preparatory Costs  Grants of up to £30,000  Approximately 135 grants (10 in competitiveness) Feasibility studies Environmental surveys Permissions Community engagement

7. Capital Funding  Grants or Loans* of up to £300,000  Normally up to 38%  Approximately 22 grants  2 in competitiveness  Woodfuel projects – WEBS II * New – due to be introduced due to complications with FITs, Grants and State Aid rules

8. Who can apply? Social enterprises Examples:  Community Interest Company  Industrial and Provident Society  Company limited by guarantee or shares  Limited liability partnership  Registered charity

9. What are the benefits and drivers?  Financial – introduction of FITs has made large community scheme highly lucrative  Community ownership – control of own resources, finances and additional community benefits  Renewable Energy Generation – reducing carbon footprints and acting as a focus for wider community carbon saving activities  Cash Cows – providing income for other community projects – reducing reliance on grants

10. What are the barriers?  Public Perception – especially to wind power  Finance – prior to gaining planning permission  Timescales – schemes take a long time, it’s tough!  Permits and Planning – take time, lack of understanding and complicated (seemingly)  Confidence – it is a big undertaking How Ynni’r Fro is addressing these...

11. Opportunities for Renewables  Studies to identify potential sites for Hydro and Wind schemes by Evironment Agency, Welsh Water, Forestry Commission, British Waterways, WAG. Joint Ventures with public and private bodies and landowners  The National Trust/ British Waterways  Private landowners  Private Industry  Local Councils

12. Increasing support and awareness  Liaising with statutory consultees and planners to raise awareness of community renewable energy scheme  Networking – bringing together stakeholders to share information  Support – uniting communities to share their experiences and support each other  Advice – providing technical advice and support  Community and Media engagement – breaking down the perceived barriers

13. Key Lessons...  Local support is important – provides local knowledge, understanding and trust  Communities that start with smaller, more manageable projects (allotments, energy efficiency, village hall/school/church) have more success with larger more complicated schemes  Important to be inclusive, build on successes and gain credibility within the community

14. Llangattock Green Valleys Delivering a Carbon Negative Community Litter Pickers - 230 bags of litter and 96 tyres in 2009! Biodiesel Club - distributed over 11,500 litres of biodiesel in 2010. Micro-Hydro - 94 kW generated from six schemes – going in now LACAS - 47 allotments growing their own food and providing a place to meet and socialise in the community. Woodlands Group - 120 acres of woodlands under management, locally sourced wood fuel supply and promoting biodiversity. School & Community Hall - New heating systems, loft insulation and 4.32kWp Solar PV system. Residential Group - 55 Residential solar PV schemes Plans for - Bio-Heating Fuel Club, Community Pub & Shop, Micro- Wind and A 1MW Anaerobic Digestion project!

15. Newtown Hydro  100kWArchimedes screw hydro on a weir  Currently have legal agreement with British Waterways and are starting detailed feasibility  Community group fought for this scheme with a private developer and won!  Group has secured a loan for the scheme and once built will issue shares to release capital to fund other schemes.

16. Newtown Hydro

17. Gwent Levels Turbines  2-3 2MW Turbines  Currently has exclusivity agreements with landowners  Early stages – just about to start detailed feasibility  Wider community support but already a strong anti- lobby from the adjacent community at Redwick!

18. What’s Happening Already? Some Schemes in Competitiveness Areas:  1MW AD – Joint Venture  100kW Hydro on British Waterways site  30kW Hydro – Tintern Angiddy Project (TAP)  4-6MW Wind Scheme (Probable JV)  250kW Farmer/Transition Group Wind  1MW Hydro (JV community and private)  Lots of speculative/early stage schemes

19. To find out more please contact the TDOs and we will be happy to discuss the schemes in more detail! SIMONE LOWTHE-THOMAS SIMONE @ SWEA.CO.UK