Co-operative renewable energy in the UK: a guide to this growing sector

Co-operatively-owned energy generation is a vibrant and growing sector in the UK. The first co‑operatively-owned wind turbines, Baywind in Cumbria, started turning in 1997. Since then, over 7,000 individual investors have ploughed over £16 million into community-owned renewable energy.

This report summarises insights gained from visits to five co-operatively owned energy projects during the summer of 2011.

It will be of interest to:

• anyone thinking of starting a community or co-operative energy initiative;
• intermediaries such as business and energy advisers;
• policy and decision makers with an interest in renewable energy and community ownership;
• members of existing energy co-operatives; and,
• anyone wanting to find out more about this growing sector.

Those interested in this area may also be interested in the Manifesto for a community energy revolution, and The Energy Bill and its impact on Community Energy.