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

Cover of 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.
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Co-operative renewable energy in the UK
Groups audience: 
Co-operative Business Development Panel (CBDP)
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sustainability
Co-operative Group
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Co-operatives UK
energy
renewable energy
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Comments

Submitted by cutemaria on 23 January, 2012 - 12:21

I am very much impressed and would like to know more, could u please tell me that what kind of renewable energy is this, or it is a general strategy useful for many types of bussiness. I am running a UK based company and would like to know about your program.
http://www.adaptaccountancy.co.uk

Submitted by Mary Rayner on 24 January, 2012 - 15:07

Hi, thanks for your interest in this report. In terms of kind of renewable energy, the technology covered in the report is hydro, wind and solar. The type of business model is a collective, co-operative one when people from a local community, or a 'community of interest' come together to develop schemes that will bring benefits to them - in terms of generating energy, generating income and then decide how they want to use any profits e.g. for local benefit.
That said, anyone wanting to start a business can look at the co-operative option. We have lots of information on our website including guides at www.uk.coop/simplyseries.  

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