MATLOCK TAKES ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

02/12/2021

Matlock Town Council is working with Derbyshire Dales Community Energy to develop clean energy projects that will help reduce the town’s carbon footprint and move towards a more sustainable future. The partnership has recently been awarded a grant through the Rural Community Energy Fund, managed by the Midlands Energy Hub, which will be used to explore the possibility of installing solar panels on key buildings in the town including Highfields School and Twiggs of Matlock. Net zero charity Pure Leapfrog has been commissioned to develop a feasibility study to see whether such projects are technical and financially viable. If this proves to be the case, there will be an opportunity for Derbyshire Dales Community Energy to develop renewable generation projects that are owned and managed by the community. It is hoped that this will help kick start a community energy revolution in Matlock.  

Derbyshire Dales Community Energy is part of a growing movement in the UK whereby local communities are involved in energy projects that they own and control. Community energy gives communities the opportunity to invest in energy projects in their area thereby helping local people have a stake in their energy infrastructure. A key feature of these projects is that all surplus profit is used for community benefit which helps increase their impact.  

Community energy has a key role to play in the transition toward a more efficient, low carbon, decentralised energy system. With the UK currently hosting COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow and extreme weather events becoming the norm, there’s a real opportunity for the communities in and around Matlock to take tangible action on climate change. 

Derbyshire Dales Community Energy is part of a growing movement in the UK whereby local communities are involved in energy projects that they own and control. Community energy gives communities the opportunity to invest in energy projects in their area thereby helping local people have a stake in their energy infrastructure. A key feature of these projects is that all surplus profit is used for community benefit which helps increase their impact.  

Community energy has a key role to play in the transition toward a more efficient, low carbon, decentralised energy system. With the UK currently hosting COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow and extreme weather events becoming the norm, there’s a real opportunity for the communities in and around Matlock to take tangible action on climate change. 

Left to right: Cllr David Hughes (Matlock Town Council), Richard Tarbatt (William Twigg Ltd), Professor Steve Martin (Derbyshire Dales Community Energy)

Cllr David Hughes of Matlock Town Council said: 

“Community energy is one way at a local level we as a community can reduce our carbon footprint and potentially gain a financial benefit at the same time.  Matlock Town Council is pleased to be working with Derbyshire Dales Community Energy and Pure Leapfrog on this exciting project which is in line with its Climate and Ecological Action Plan adopted in February 2020.” 

Prof Stephen Martin for Derbyshire Dales Community Energy said: 

“Average household electricity consumption in the Dales is 4385 kWh/year: above the national average of 3794 kWh/year. A decisive shift to community-owned renewables could empower and unify urban and rural communities across the district. As well as combating climate change, this could enable greater social equality, tackle fuel poverty and fund community causes. The creation of multiple, mutually supportive energy co-operatives can help achieve these transformations.” 

 Richard Tarbatt, Managing Director of Twiggs said:  

Notes for editor: 

The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is a £10 million programme, managed by the Local Energy Hubs and funded through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy which supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects, which provide economic and social benefits to the community. RCEF provides support to rural communities in 2 stages. Stage 1 grants of up to £40,000 for a feasibility study for a renewable energy project and stage 2 grants of up to £100,000 for business development and planning of feasible schemes. 

 

There are around 420 active community energy groups in the UK. To date the sector has mainly been involved in electricity generation (community energy groups own and manage around 320MW electricity generation assets) but is diversifying more and more into heat, EV charging and energy efficiency projects. To date the sector has raised more than £30million in community finance and distributed £3.13m into community benefit projects such as fuel poverty reduction programmes.  

Contacts: 

Matlock Town Council: Cllr David Hughes - matlockgreen@matlock.gov.uk; 07711898080 

Derbyshire Dales Community Energy: Steve Martin - derbyshiredalescommunityenergy@gmail.com