Community Energy Generation

Community Energy: “the economic and operational participation and/or ownership by citizens or members of a defined community in a renewable energy project”—regardless of size and scope of the project. Community energy is any combination of at least two of the following elements: Local stakeholders own more than half or all shares of a renewable energy project; voting control rests with a community-based organisation; and the majority of social and economic benefits are decentralized locally.”

Community Energy is spreading across the planet, generating cost savings, revenue for community re-investment, and a cleaner local environment.

See  IRENA Coalition for Action. “Community Energy: Broadening the Ownership of Renewables,” 2018, http://coalition.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Coalition-for-Action/Publication/Coalition-for-Action_Community-Energy_2018.pdf

 

“Community Energy: Broadening the Ownership of Renewables” is a very useful summary of key factors important to broadening ownership. The authors review the concept, identify the benefits of democratizing and distributing ownership, and discuss implementation challenges—regulatory, financial, legal, and cultural barriers that can create difficulties. They conclude with actions that governments and other institutions at different levels can take to broaden support for renewables. 

Links on Community Energy

https://www.pembina.org/pub/alberta-community-solar-guide

Alberta Community Solar Guide – Pembina Institute Community solar projects enable community members to share a partial stake in owning, leasing, or using electricity from a solar PV array. This guide is for Albertans who want to, and renewable energy developers who can use it as an awareness tool when working with communities to develop such projects. www.pembina.org

https://www.efficiencyalberta.ca/commgen/

Community Generation Online Resource Hub | Energy Efficiency Alberta Overview. In response to the growing demand for renewable energy in Alberta, the Government of Alberta is investing $200 million over 20 years in Climate Leadership Plan funds to launch a new Community Generation Program. www.efficiencyalberta.ca

 

 

Good General Sources

U.S. Department of Energy. “What is the Smart Grid?” video, 5:18, posted by the creator to YouTube, June 4, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRTpWZReJk.

“Drawdown. Electricity Generation Sector Summary,” paying particular attention to the Solutions section and Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. (22 minutes)

Drawdown.org. “Electricity Generation Sector Summary,” accessed January 25, 2019,

https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/electricity-generation.

 

Watch “Future Policy Series: 100% Renewable Energy with Anna Leidreiter.” (15:54)

World Future Council. “100% Renewable Energy with Anna Leidreiter,” video, 15:54, posted by the creator to YouTube, August 2, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=732&v=i56fjDvWhb8.