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Whitemoor Feasibility Study

Feasibility Study Underway

In October last year, the Midlands Net Zero Hub awarded us a Community Energy Fund Grant on behalf of the UK Government to undertake a renewable energy feasibility study.  Following our success in attaining funds, the project is underway to identify potential options for a renewable energy strategy in Belper, covering the Whitemoor area.  The study is exploring a range of sustainable energy solutions, including:

  • Ground and air source heat pumps
  • Heat pump-fed district heating systems
  • Solar energy systems
  • Battery storage
  • Utilising waste heat
  • Electric vehicle charging infrastructure (e.g. solar-powered car parks)
  • Wind turbines 

We hope the outcome of this study will be positive, enabling us to apply for the Stage 2 Development Grant to examine technical feasibility. 

Consultant

We have engaged local renewable energy experts, T4 Sustainability Ltd, to perform this assessment.  Founded in May 2002 and based in Ilkeston, they have completed thousands of consultancy and installation projects for clients, including the Carbon Trust, National Trust, Local Authorities, the NHS, Ofgem, consultancies, manufacturing companies and homeowners.  

Community

Community benefit is at the core of this project, and we will seek the views of all those living within the Whitemoor area.

For more information or to share your views if you live in the Whitemoor area of Belper, please get in touch with us at info@belpercommunityenergy.org.uk

Identifies Midlands Net Zero Hub

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Energy

Affordablility

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BCE Progress

Becoming a BenCom

Belper Community Energy reached a major early milestone in late March, when we officially became a Community Benefit Society.

A Community Benefit Society (or BenCom for short) is a form of co-operative; but, while a Co-operative Society exists to serve the interests of its members, a BenCom exists to serve the interests of a particular community, in our case Belper and the surrounding areas.

BenComs serve their community by carrying out a trade or business.  Our business is renewable electricity generation, but other examples of BenComs include pubs, housing schemes and even a group that saved a historic pier.

For a new organisation like us, becoming registered as a BenCom is an important step.  Being a BenCom means that we are incorporated, enabling us to raise funds from the community or apply for grants.  This money will allow us to invest in community energy projects.

A BenCom is a not-for-profit organisation and operates on a one-member-one-vote process, which means that members have a real stake in the organisation, and an equal say in how it functions.  Any member of the community can become a member of the BenCom.

To become a BenCom, we had to register with the Financial Conduct Authority.  As members of Co-operatives UK, we received plenty of guidance and advice from them to get our application right.  And we expect to continue to tap into their wisdom as we begin to understand our new obligations as a BenCom.

Carbon Footprint

Energy

Affordablility

Community