The community energy groups within the Suffolk Community Energy Network are all not-for-profit local community energy projects which exist to support community-led action on climate change.
CSCE aims to encourage and support the rural communities of central Suffolk to decarbonise, improve energy resilience and reduce their energy costs, making full use of the financial help available. As a community organisation, CSCE works with community organisations and communities where there is consensus amongst residents or where it can be reached in a way to benefit the community as a whole.
Charsfield Community Energy aims to explore possibilities such as solar and wind generation, local grid scale battery storage, widespread heat pump installations, and the establishment of local car clubs with electric cars and charging stations. These innovative ideas indicate a greener and cost saving future for all residents as well as regular dividends for the village.
We are delighted that our recent bid for the government funding for a renewable energy feasibility study has been successful and we are currently waiting for the funding to come through. In the meantime we are letting the village and wider community know about the possibilities of such a project and what benefits it will bring to the community.
Deben Climate Centre is Community-grown and is focused on providing understanding of how the growing pace of climate change is already affecting our local environment. Our response to this threat is to provide practical hands-on projects with which the community can start to manage these threats.
These projects include the wide-ranging testing of our river environment, a Community Energy company, a Community food farm, and a Community Hub.
We work with many groups throughout the East Suffolk district.
Hadleigh HEAT is now part of the Communipower project in Suffolk. We have been busy successfully recruiting community energy champions to help give advice to people wanting to reduce their energy bills through improved insulation and heat pumps. We now have 5 people who are interested and a coordinator. Key to this has been sorting out the contracts for those being paid on a freelance basis. We haven’t yet settled on a name or a new logo but we are actively working with Polstead, Boxford, Bildeston and other local villages.
Heating Bildeston are happy to work with and support other groups in achieving these goals for their community.
Heating Bildeston aims to install a heat network which will provide the community with heat for hot water and radiators that is both cheaper and better for our planet. As a community project, with the support of our village, we hope to:
Net Zero Leiston (NZL) is an ambitious initiative aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions while creating a sustainable, eco-friendly environment for local residents. Since its inception in July 2020, NZL has led various decarbonisation efforts, published a robust ‘route map’ to Net Zero by around 2030, and established a model for other towns to replicate. We are involved in energy efficiency, sustainable transport, biodiversity increase, raising awareness of climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions.
Suffolk Green Cluster represents Parishes and Green Groups in West and Mid-Suffolk. Members includes Hopton, Thelnetham, Hinderclay, Rickinghall & Botesdale, Ixworth and Risby.
Working together, we are pooling resources and capacity to deliver Community Renewable Energy for residents, homeowners and businesses. We have produced our Community Climate Action plan, covered: Energy, Housing, Transport, Food and Biodiversity, and are forming working groups for each.
We’re delighted to receive support from Suffolk ‘s Public Sector Leaders to take our action on Energy to the next level. This support has led to plans for solar PV and ground source heat pump on a community pub (for the greenest pub in Suffolk and net exporter of energy) and we’re in discussions with a school, village hall, shop and dentist. Though we’re not limiting our ambition to rooftops, with consultation under way for co-locating an onshore wind turbine with 100 acres of Agrivoltaics, to help Suffolk reach Net Zero
