Factores actitudinales

360 This Action Plan gives an overview of key actions to support community energy which are referenced in this Strategy. A more detailed implementation plan, including key dates and milestones, will be developed as part of the process of implementing the Strategy. 361 Parts of the energy system are devolved to different extents in Wales, Scotland and

Northern Ireland, hence each policy measure within this Strategy applies differently in each territory. All the Devolved Administrations have been fully engaged in developing this Strategy, but retain the right to develop policies for devolved areas.

362 This DECC Strategy and its actions primarily focus on Great Britain. In Northern Ireland both energy and planning policy are devolved matters and appropriate actions are being taken forward across a number of areas. In particular, a separate study into communities and renewable energy was published in October 2013 by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment along with the Departments of the Environment and Agriculture and Rural Development. One of the recommendations of that study was that the Departments should await the publication of this Strategy and consider its proposals before preparing and consulting on an Action Plan reflecting the Northern Ireland position.

Section of Strategy

What we’ve already done to support Community

Energy

What we’re doing through this Strategy

Further actions we hope to take in the

future

Partnerships  Secretary of State has

written to all Local Authority Leaders in England  Communities Conference in early 2014  Renewable industry taskforce on community ownership (2014) Capacity and capability  £80m Community First programme  Training 5,000 Community Organisers by 2015

 Community Shares Unit set up

 Joint Cabinet

Office/DECC £500,000 Community Energy Peer Mentoring Fund

Measuring impact  Evaluations of previous DECC-funded community energy schemes  Research commissioned alongside Strategy  Funding for academic

 Tools for measuring impact as part of new information resource  Evaluation of government-funded community energy activities.  Measuring outcomes of £80m Green Deal Communities scheme, DECC/DEFRA- funded RCEF and the UCEF

Section of Strategy

What we’ve already done to support Community

Energy

What we’re doing through this Strategy

Further actions we hope to take in the

future

research into community energy from Research Councils and the Higher Education Innovation Fund

 Survey of community energy sector in two years to understand the effects of this Strategy on the types and locations of community energy projects

 Smart meters will enable easier access to energy consumption data Electricity generation  FITs, Renewable Obligation Certificates and PPAs to provide income for community energy

 £15m RCEF

 Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax relief for investors in

community electricity generation groups receiving FITs

 DECC has convened round table discussions to identify ways to address barriers around finance

 ‘Licence Lite’ being explored by the Greater London Authority (GLA)  Big Society Capital

funding for community renewable energy projects

 £10m Social Incubator Fund to support social start-ups.

 The Cabinet Office’s Investment and Contract Readiness Fund (ICRF)

 £10m UCEF providing early stage finance for CE groups in England  Consulting on an

increase in the FITs capacity ceiling for community projects from 5 to 10MW in spring 2014

 Three new working groups to address barriers to Planning & Permitting, Hydro and Grid Connections (reporting back with recommendations in 2014)

 Working with Ofgem to monitor progress on Licence Lite  Opened informal discussions with the European Commission about the possibility of including the small-scale onshore wind energy and small- scale hydro energy sectors within GIB’s approved scope of operation.  ‘Offtaker of Last Resort’ mechanism to help CE groups access PPAs  Meeting between Ofgem and community groups on Licence Lite in 2014 Heat generation

 The non-domestic RHI was introduced in 2011  The £15m RCEF fund

provides grants and

 The £10m UCEF (See Electricity Generation)

 The domestic RHI will launch in 2014

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Strategy

What we’ve already done to support Community

Energy

What we’re doing through this Strategy

Further actions we hope to take in the

future

unsecured loans to community energy generation projects, including heat projects  DECC has previously

developed a ‘heat map’ for England

 New Heat Network Delivery Unit (HNDU)

information resource for communities hosted online  Augment the National Heat Map with a new water source heat map

Reducing energy use

 LEAF and the LCCC provided funding for community energy efficiency projects  £80m Green Deal

Communities scheme  New guidance for Green

Deal participants on licensing requirements under the Consumer Credit Act (1974)  Green Open Homes

network

 Engaging vulnerable consumers in energy efficiency through BESN

 Joint Cabinet

Office/DECC £500,000 Social Action Energy Advice Pilots and Playbook (SAEAPP) fund  Community Energy Saving Competition  Programme of engagement with

communities and LAs in ECO

 Sharing learning from SAEAPP scheme

 The Zero Carbon Home ‘Allowable Solutions’ framework (funding from 2016) Managing energy demand

 Working with Ofgem, DNOs, industry and consumers through Smart Grid Forum  Support for smart

technology trials and local energy

management from Ofgem (through the Low Carbon Networks Fund) DECC, and the

Technology Strategy Board

 Support for smart grids and cities projects through Horizon 2020 programme

 DECC will work with Ofgem and other relevant organisations to communicate and promote the range of funding options available to support DNOs in their work with communities on the development and deployment of smart grids

 Once the procedures for third party access to smart meter data are finalised, DECC will provide guidance on the processes for

 Smart meters will be rolled out as standard across GB households between 2015 and 2020

Section of Strategy

What we’ve already done to support Community

Energy

What we’re doing through this Strategy

Further actions we hope to take in the

future community groups Purchasing energy  Cheaper Energy Together, a £5m grant funding offer, which supported 31 collective switching schemes across Great Britain  £900,000 BESN to deliver community outreach to vulnerable consumers  Established a working group with representatives from industry, consumer groups, and Ofgem  Produced new guidance

on collective switching (with Consumer Focus)  DECC’s Secretary of

State wrote to all domestic gas and electricity suppliers encouraging their

participation in collective purchasing/switching schemes

 Ofgem’s Retail Market Review to make retail market simpler

 DECC is supporting oil buying groups and has backed the Buy Oil Early campaign

 RHPP 2 Communities scheme

 Revised and updated guidance for organisers of collective switching schemes  Further £1m additional funding to continue supporting BESN in 2014/15  Engaging with Ofgem in their work on regulatory issues around collective switching  We will engage with energy suppliers, including independent suppliers, and scheme organisers about how auctions can be designed to secure the best possible deals for consumers

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