Describing himself today as ‘politically homeless’, Skidmore resigned last year as a Conservative MP and party member over the Sunak government’s retreat from green initiatives, including delaying tougher requirements on home insulation and extending sales of petrol-driven cars.

Re-affirming his faith as a Conservative in markets, Skidmore told a solar conference in London :

“The future of energy is local. Community energy will create more flexibility for consumers, in bringing cheaper, cleaner electricity, achieving Net Zero, even balancing the grid.  It re-builds communities.  But too few politicians realise its implications”.

While sitting as a Bristol MP, Skidmore was tasked by premier Johnson to conduct an expert review of Britain’s Net Zero policies.  His “Mission Zero” report in January 2023 contained over 120 recommendations, re-affirming the goal’s necessity, and calling for accelerated practical measures to reach the target, in the face of opposition from several fellow Conservatives at Westminster.

Rishi Sunak’s subsequent wavering over Net Zero convinced Skidmore to end his 14 year career at Westminster and his Tory party membership, concentrating instead on work as professor of Net Zero policy at Bath Unversity.

On 27 June with trade body Renewable UK, Skidmore will publish “Net Zero at the Crossroads”, a new assessment seeking to influence the incoming government’s pursuit of energy sustainability and deadlines towards its delivery.  The day is the fifth anniversary of Skidmore while energy minister signing the Johnson government’s Net Zero goals into UK law.

The ex-minister & ex-Conservative told Solar Media’s UK Solar Summit this morning that he remains committed to continuing his cross-party advocacy for green energy, including in community fora such as Oxford County Council’s energy round table.

“My message to practitioners in solar and in community energy is to engage as fully as possible with politicians at every level at this crucial time for clean power”, Skidmore told the conference.

Activists & volunteers working through around 300 energy co-ops in England & Wales are a corrective, Skidmore implied, to what he called Britain’s culture of viewing energy as ‘a commodity imposed from above, top down’.  He called for more community co-ops such as that he had known in Bristol, and endorsed the work of the ‘Right of Local Sale’ campaign, to which over half of all MPs are now signed up.

Recalling attitudes among his former Conservative colleagues at Westminster, Skidmore shared with the conference analysis that, of the 100 constituencies with the most household PV deployed, every one is represented by a Conservative MP.

Skidmore recalled that 49-day premier Liz Truss enthused to him over the benefits of rooftop solar, but opposed PV farms on agricultural land. He reminded delegates that only 3% of UK land would be required to deliver the government’s continuing goal of 70GW of installed PV by 2030.

During his work on the Net Zero review, Skidmore recalled that Craig McKinlay, leader of the Net Zero Review group of sceptical Tory MPs, had expressed frustration that over one million homes installing PV in the past decade would face added expense of having to upgrade rooftop systems in future.

Britain needs to follow the example of more participative energy cultures of our European neighbours, Skidmore argued. Technical changes enabling dispersed low carbon generation, sometimes no longer under the control of corporations, dictated that a culture change was necessary.  Community participants should be guiding politicians, he said.

Interest declared: the author invests in and participates in several local UK energy co-operatives, including in London & the south east.

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Ninety volunteer-led energy schemes are among the 200 and more projects whose backers have used Ethex as a fund-raising source to promote environmental change. Alongside solar cooperatives in Bristol and Wales, the platform’s energy ventures include:

• Solar for Schools, which raised £6.1 million to work with schools and communities to provide decarbonisation and energy education by means of PV installations across the UK.
• Low Carbon Hub, which raised £9.6 million for a range of pioneering green energy hubs in Oxforshire, from community solar to electric transport
• Energy Garden, which raised over £1 million for community solar and green spaces in London

Having directed £120 million of small backers’ and trust money to projects, now the platform led by Lisa Ashford MBE pictured, aims to raise another £200 million by 2029.

Timed for its birthday, the social investment fund launches a new survey showing that two-thirds (67%) of UK investors and savers want to see their money being used to positively impact the planet and society. But 56% told the platform’s researchers that they’re unsure where it actually goes.

Conducted by OnePoll, the survey reveals that the younger people are, the more likely they are to want money to do good. Almost four-fifths of under 24s, or 79%, stated this goal was important for them.

CEO Lisa Ashford was awarded the MBE in 2023 for services to impact investment

She said: “If you care about creating a better future for all, what you choose to do with your money is just as important as recycling, saving energy or supporting charities. It’s encouraging that our survey shows such a high level of awareness of the importance of investing for a positive impact, especially among younger people. But it also shows that there isn’t nearly enough transparency from the financial sector about how they use the money people trust them with. Savers and investors rightly need to know exactly what their money is being used for.”

Since its launch, the non-profit outfit has built a registered investor base of more than 25,000 people.

The survey is being published in tandem with Ethex’s 10-year Impact Report as the company  celebrates 10 years of making ethical investments accessible to all.

It faces challenges. Awareness of the ethical investment alternatives remains low, at only 39% – although younger people are more savvy, with 63% of 18 – 34 year olds in particular keen to invest in companies or projects tackling climate change.

CEO Ashford explained: “As the cost of living continues to rise and climate change is an even bigger threat, our mission at Ethex is more relevant than ever.

Lisa Ashford added: “We believe that our money is the most powerful transformational force for environmental and social change. Over the last decade, we have seen the power of people’s pounds in action. We have connected thousands of ordinary people with extraordinary projects, making it easy for them to use their money to support organisations taking real steps to accelerate climate action, build stronger communities and reduce poverty.”

“We plan to become bigger and bolder and get many more people involved to create a huge collective impact – reaching an ambitious £200 million deployed to do good in the next 5 years”

More details here.

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That’s the view of the Greater London Assembly’s environment committee, as its latest report commits it to more support for citizen-controlled green power.

Around 30 volunteer energy groups – almost one per borough – at present deliver and fund solar schemes on London’s community roofs, including schools.  Expanding the sector could power a minimum 350,000 homes in the capital, experts believe, if choke points on array siting and funding are lifted.

Each citizen co-operative funnels offtake revenues to fund advice schemes helping London’s millions of fuel-poor.

Community energy is defined by the Greater London Authority as ‘collective action taken by a self-organised network of people with a common agenda to reduce, manage or generate energy’. 

City Hall’s environment councillors view the Mayor’s GLA-level Community Energy Fund, with its already committed £10 million, as a success in building volunteer skills and yielding power. But snags remain.

Fewer curbs imposed by borough-level planners in siting arrays in conservation areas and old buildings, need too to be signalled from City Hall, the report argues.

London’s richest borough, Kensington and Chelsea, blazes a trail, GLA councillors believe. In March 2022 its planners ordered consent for solar panels should be presumed on most Grade II and most Grade II* listed buildings without the need for listed building consent.

For a decade Community Energy London (CEL) has shared expertise between neighbourhood volunteers, representing them at City Hall.

Two years ago it combined the Mayor’s Solar Opportunity Map with more data on London’s community buildings.  The result was a city-wide ‘Solar Potential Map’, identifying locations where more than 1GW of green community electricity could easily flourish.

Hackney and Southwark lead drives to earmark borough-level cash in support of volunteers investing in citizen-controlled solar.  Such local funds must grow, the GLA body recommends, aided by City Hall. Revenues from local carbon offsetting should be their best source, backed by examples of best practice.

Central government, led by Dulwich-educated energy secretary Claire Coutinho MP, should step up too, says the report, expanding Whitehall’s community energy fund, tasked to strengthen co-ops in the capital and beyond.

Labour AM Léonie Cooper, environment chair at the London Assembly, pictured, said: “Community energy projects give groups of people the opportunity to deliver and support energy resourcing in their communities.

“Not only do they enable increased energy supply, they help educate residents on the importance of responsibly sourced energy in the light of a climate emergency.

“Tackling fuel poverty must be a priority and community energy projects certainly play their part in this.

“The Mayor’s London Community Energy Fund has already been successful, so it is essential both the Mayor and Government press on with community energy projects to help London become a more sustainable city.”

Read the GLA community solar report here.

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Eight solar farms together rated at 36MWp in output now move into the control of Community Energy Together, an alliance formed of five regional generating co-operatives.

During CET’s stewardship up to £20 million of community benefits, could flow, say participants. These are delivered in the form of support to groups fighting fuel poverty and supporting village halls.

The five participants are community benefit societies Wight Energy, Gower Power, Kent Energy, Somerset’s Yealm Energy and Shropshire & Telford Community Energy.

Big Society Capital, one of the financial midwives to the deal, says it meets the electricity needs of 13,000 homes. At a stroke, it also increases by 20% co-operative energy’s share of national green power generation.

The deal has been facilitated by Community Owned Renewable Energy (CORE), a partnership between the UK’s leading social impact investor Big Society Capital and Power to Change, an independent trust fostering community enterprise.

Designed and managed by the UK’s leading environmental impact investment advisor and fund manager, Finance Earth, the closure of the fund marks the successful realisation of its initial purpose of facilitating community ownership of renewable assets and creating funding streams for wider social change.

Big Society Capital’s Joe Shamash said: “This transfer is testament to the potential that community energy has to help the UK reach its net zero targets in a way that benefits local communities throughout the country. We are so pleased to have helped communities take ownership of solar farms that deliver the multiple benefits of energy security, a cleaner planet and funding for local community projects.”

Participants see this deal as a blueprint for the Labour party’s energy plans, encouraging community ownership of small-scale projects promoting cleaner power. Money is reinvested in communities and utilisation of private investment as part of national energy policy.

Power to Change’s CEO Tim Davies-Pugh said: “Local and community energy is key to making the UK a clean energy superpower and building an economy that works for people and planet. Bold, collaborative approaches are needed to rapidly grow community energy at scale, opening new markets and bringing in institutional investment, whilst remaining embedded in local communities. As a key partner in this innovative scheme, we stand ready to share the lessons, particularly as the Labour Party further develops its approach to community energy through its Local Power Plan.”

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The authority steps in when suppliers breach their licence conditions or are found to be failing customers.

It recovered last year’s £77.2 million in the form of fines, customer refunds, compensation and alternative actions. That’s almost triple 2022’s £27.3 million. The latest sum includes £5 million of direct fines.

Over £57 million of cash recovered from suppliers was paid into Ofgem’s Energy Redress Fund, which benefits charities & community projects designed to help vulnerable customers.

The ERF is managed by the Energy Saving Trust. Since launch in 2018, it has handed out £102 million in grants to 538 projects.

A further £35 million has been added for sharing among projects, including new ones. The ERF now seeks fresh applications; details here.

Examples of licence breaches in 2023 included three generators who unfairly raised bills, or others inflicting unacceptable call waits on customers wanting to change supplier.

Ofgem says it forced suppliers to pay over a million pounds a month for poor service alone. The regulator says 2023’s ‘significant rise’ in fines reflects Ofgem’s proactive work to identify suppliers’ service failures.

“Ensuring customers are treated fairly is at the heart of Ofgem’s mission”, said its director for enforcement Cathryn Scott.

“That’s why we make suppliers pay when they break rules. When they do, it’s only right that customers should benefit.

“Every year, the Energy Redress Fund makes a positive difference to the lives of customers, particularly people who are struggling and vulnerable. Seeing it pass the £100 million mark is a significant milestone.

“This could not have happened without the thorough investigative work of our compliance teams, or the Energy Saving Trust who ensure target the money.”

ERF remedies have included:

• £20 million in fuel vouchers issued to charities to identify and provide help to vulnerable customers at risk of disconnection
• installing energy saving methods for more than 150,000 homes to help reduce bills
• working to ensure that future home heating controls and new energy technologies work for everyone including people living with disabilities

Among the 538 projects supported by the energy redress fund is the Warm Hubs centre in the village of Seahouses, Northumberland.

Redress funding drove this community resource, established by the Community Action Northumberland charity, and a lifeline service last winter at the height of the energy crisis.

Laura McGadie at the Energy Saving Trust, said: “We are pleased to have managed the distribution of more than £100 million in much-needed funds from the Redress scheme to frontline charities and social enterprises since 2018.

“The projects funded by the scheme are helping customers in the most vulnerable situations through the cost of living crisis, but they also look to the future.

“Charities and social enterprises have a crucial role to play in ensuring no one is left behind as we transition to net zero and that we all have a voice and a role in the changes that are coming to our energy system.”

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CEE says Labour stands to “turbo-charge” the sector, freeing up volunteer-run co-ops “to be a powerhouse for energy transformation in every community”.

An extra 8GW of renewable generating capacity, to be built by 2030 and sponsored by GB Energy, a new nationalised investor, is among a revamp of Labour’s new policies announced today.

Labour said its Local Power Plan will put “more solar panels on public land or housing estates, and empower local communities to come forward with projects directly owned by local people.”

The party unveiled its radical new direction during Community Energy Fortnight, as over 320 co-operatives nationwide celebrate more than 330 MW of democratically accountable capacity already installed.

Under Labour’s sharpened Local Power blueprint, councils too will receive £600 million a year to boost municipal generation, in return for identifying generation sites and applying easier rules granting planning approval. Profits from sales of municipal energy will go to improve services or lower council taxes.

Labour’s bigger role for co-ops and councils comes after shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves rowed back last month from an earlier pledge to spend £28 Billion every year on renewables. That figure is now downgraded as a target for the fifth year of any Labour government.

Speaking this morning in Edinburgh, Sir Keir Starmer – pictured with Reeves – was unveiling Labour’s plans to:

• loosen planning curbs in England & Wales which continue in practice the Tories’ seven year ban on new onshore wind farms, the cheapest form of low-carbon power
• end new North Sea oil & gas extraction, but respect all licences granted before Labour takes office. These are likely to include the Rosebank field, west of Shetland
• set up GB Energy, as a nationalised body to accelerate renewables, with its headquarters in Scotland

GB Energy’s role would include overseeing the recycling of profits from municipal energy sales. Councils could use that income to cut council tax, pay for improved public services or simply provide rebates on energy bills.

Community Energy England quantifies big social benefits delivered by volunteer-managed renewables. Advice delivered by its supporters across England achieves at least £9 of social benefit for every £1 spent, it claims.  In 2021, the sector’s toughest year for operations, co-op members worked with more than 51,000 households and saved £3.35m on energy bills.

Emma Bridge, CEE’s chief executive commented; “We warmly welcome Labour’s emphasis on bringing together communities with the public and private sectors as a key part of their Clean Power plan.

She went on: “Community energy groups are already working with schools, businesses and community buildings to install renewable energy, helping fuel poor homes to reduce their energy bills, supporting unemployed people to build skills and gain new employment, and much more. But there are many parts of the country that don’t yet have community energy.

“Building a zero-carbon energy system is a social issue that requires a just transition. Community energy builds the consent, trust and active participation to make this happen.

“Labour’s announcement is a strong step towards enabling all communities to have access to their own energy projects and creating a fair, zero carbon energy system”, Bridge added. Community Energy England looks forward to working with them to realise that vision.”

In Scotland, onshore wind schemes controlled by co-ops deliver on average 34 times the community benefit of commercial projects, the sector claims.

From the Renewable Energy Association, chief executive Dr Nina Skorupska CBE welcomed Labour’s move.

“As Sir Keir makes clear, renewables can deliver cheaper, greener power than any alternatives and must be rolled out at scale as quickly as possible. The REA echoes his statement that clean energy is now essential for national security.

“We agree in principle that local communities should benefit economically from projects in their areas, as this could become a major added benefit of the Net Zero transition”.

Sarah Merrick, founder & CEO of Ripple Energy, the venture enabling collective ownership of wind and solar farms, also backed Labour’s plan.

“We welcome Keir Starmer’s commitments to overturn the de-facto ban in England on onshore wind and speeding up grid connections”, said Merrick. “Action is long overdue“.  

Crowding in private investment was a key plank of Starmer’s speech. For a truly democratic and just transition, investment from households across the country must be crowded in too. People, as well as big financial institutions, can and should be able to own and directly benefit from the UK’s new wind farms and solar parks.

“Ripple has already shown it’s possible, we stand ready to deliver on a much larger scale.”

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On Energy Day at the CoP26 climate summit, lobbyists Community Energy England have lambasted Whitehall mandarins and Westminster politicians – including Beis secretary Kwasi Kwarteng attending in Glasgow today – for giving citizen-led energy groups the cold shoulder, sacrificing their potential to enthuse voters about the meaning of Net Zero.

“The government’s Net Zero Strategy has no plan or support for community energy, and fails to put people at the heart of the energy system”, Community Energy England accuses.

CEE’s ‘State of the Sector 2021’ contains a vision for 2030. Independently checked, it reckons volunteer-led localities could power 2.3 million English homes, support 8,700 fulltime jobs and boost the UK economy by £1.8 billion.

None of that vision featured in Johnson’s Net Zero Strategy last month, says CEE. The blueprint ignored community energy completely, focusing instead on “large-scale, centralised supply side options”.

Mistrusted energy companies’ repeated bids to decarbonise homes & heat fail to match local groups’ results and credibility, CE England says, citing research.

In campaigns for energy efficiency, neighbourhood leadership delivers between up to 5 times the benefits achieved by commercial energy firms, says CEE.

Whitehall is blind to co-ops, but neighbours get the picture

And in benefits such as alleviating fuel poverty, volunteer community groups outpunch deep-pocketed firms by as much as 13 times, CEE’s research shows.

Eighty-two per cent of Brits support the idea of locals controlling clean power generation, says Community Energy England.

Witnessing local co-ops’ success in Germany, Denmark and Scotland, recent ministers Claire Perry and Chris Skidmore have told the group “the future of energy is local”, CEE says.

Away from neglectful Whitehall, other governments embrace volunteer-led localism more warmly, says the group.  Germany’s 900 trading energy co-ops own between 25% and 40% of the country’s installed solar and wind farms. They can sell electricity direct to customers, a right which is denied to Brits.

Looking to double Scotland’s on-shore wind generation, Nicola Sturgeon’s coalition government is prioritising boosting community control of renewables as a chief concern. Holyrood’s short consultation ends on 22 January.

Whitehall’s capture by big power firms, raising corporations above furthering community empowerment, is deep-rooted, Community Energy England says.

CEE points to a 2014 community energy strategy presented by the Conservative-led Coalition, where  Sir Ed Davie, now LibDem leader, served as energy secretary. The 2014 plan envisaged 1 million homes powered by volunteer-controlled energy by 2020.

“Instead, virtually every policy change since has made it more difficult to deliver local benefits”, CEE asserts.

Community Energy England stresses easy steps ministers could take to boost locals’ cleaning up of Britain’s power system;

• low-interest loans to help communities set up clean generating plant
• restoring tax breaks removed by George Osborne when chancellor
• levelling the playing field, so urban co-ops can attract finance as easily as rural ones

The umbrella body quotes the Climate Change Committee, independent scientific advisors to Beis.

“If (British) people are not engaged in this (decarbonisation) challenge, the UK will not deliver Net Zero by 2050”, the CCC reported to Parliament in June.

“People need to be brought into the decision-making process, to derive a sense of ownership of the Net Zero project”.

Read more on Community Energy England’s demands here.

Interest declared – the author invests in several English co-ops including SE24 Energy, CREW Energy and Brighton Energy Co-operative.

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