The North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub has awarded more than £302,000 Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) funding to support five community energy groups to progress innovative community energy projects.
The successful projects span technologies, including solar, batteries and heat pumps.
Humshaugh Net Zero CIC was awarded £67,000 to develop a solar PV electricity generation facility to be ready to build in 2023.
Solar PV was identified as a viable solution following a comprehensive independent review of low carbon energy generation options for the Parish of Humshaugh.
Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre secured £53,320 to enable the completion of all necessary pre-development work needed to progress with work to use heat from water flowing through underground mines to contribute to heating a swimming pool, which could potentially provide heat for adjacent sites too.
Hartlepower Solar Village Project was awarded £53,000 to deliver a 1.1MW community solar farm on a 4.5 acre site in Greatham Village, with the solar farm being grid and private wire connected to The Hospital of God Care Community Care Home Facility, it’s associated rental properties and the village primary school.
Smart Connected Renewable Community Energy (CAN) received £94,060 to progress the installation of solar panels and associated battery storage at 19 community buildings.
Finally, Norham Community Energy Project was awarded £34,973 to employ a qualified and experienced consultancy to investigate the community energy requirements, research the local renewable energy generation opportunities, and advice on the relative feasibility of the options available.
This builds on a successful earlier RCEF programme delivery of targeted support for enthusiastic rural communities across the Hub geography with £1.7m of investment up to October 2021 used to develop and set up low and zero carbon energy projects in the area.