Community Energy Conference

The 2019 Community Energy Conference will take place at Sheffield Hallam University on 22 June. It is organised by Community Energy England in partnership with Co-op Energy and Sheffield Hallam University.

Book your free ticket (includes lunch) here…
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-energy-conference-2019-tickets-56189314753

The draft agenda is as follows with more announcements to be made over the coming weeks.

Plenary Morning Sessions

Mark Billsborough, Co-op Energy
Emma Bridge, Community Energy England
Anne-Claire Leydier, Northern Powergrid
Helen Seagrave, Electricity North West

80-minute Workshops

Effective Governance Masterclass

Co-operatives UK will take delegates through the key elements of good governance for co-operatives and community benefit societies, including organisational purpose, ensuring an effective board, operations & processes, performance & roles, and members & participation.

Re-imagining Community Energy

Community Energy England and Tyndall Manchester will explore with delegates what role community energy may play in 2030 and how we can transition to an energy system where community-led projects are abundant. Insights will be shared from sector workshops from UK Energy Research Centre funded research into potential future business models and the key questions and challenges that remain. Findings from this session will be used to develop a Vision for Community Energy with CEE members which will be shared with politicians and other key stakeholders.

New data technologies for emerging Community Energy business models (sponsored by Carbon Coop)

Energy and data are increasingly intertwined, as a result, new online technologies are supporting new and emerging Community Energy business models. From smart meter integration to the aggregation and sale of local flexible loads and the delivery of new energy efficiency services. This session is a hands-on guide to new, open source technologies and how Community Energy groups and practitioners can use and benefit from them, individually and collectively.

45-minute afternoon Taster Sessions…
– A Guide to the Relaunched Rural Community Energy Fund – North West Local Energy Hub, Greater South East Local Energy Hub and Tees Valley Combined Authority
– An Introduction to Community Energy – Energy4All
– Asset Acquisition, Management and Pairing – Forum for the Future and Bright Renewables
– Communicating Community Energy and Local Campaigning– Gill Owen Communications & TBC
– Demonstrating Social Impact – Leapfrog and Low Carbon Hub
– EU Heroes – Overcoming Barriers to Connecting Projects to the Grid – Energy Saving Trust
– Flexibility and Aggregation – Regen
– Heat – Opportunities Now and in the Future – Durham University and RINA
– Impact Investing for Beginners – Ethex
– Maximising Engagement with Energy Efficiency – South East London Community Energy and Sheffield Hallam University
– Retrofit – Learning from the BEIS Local Supply Chains Pilots – BHESCo and Carbon Coop
– Setting up a Regional Network in Yorkshire and Humber and the North East – Community Energy England
… and there is much more to be confirmed and announced soon!

Working spaces and refreshments are available for any meetings or collaborative working you want to embark upon. This day is your conference so feel free to pick, choose and wander between sessions or have some meetings over a coffee.

Also, whilst at the conference, you should take the opportunity to test your knowledge of the energy system. On the day, you can take part in the Great Energy Escape, an immersive game designed and ran by Carbon Coop and sponsored by Power to Change. We’re in grave danger and we need a team of skilled agents to break into the ancient 1970’s control room, re-boot the system, and get our city’s energy back online. We only have half an hour before the whole city shuts down for good. It’s up to you! Book your place for the Great Energy Escape here.

Please book your free tickets to attend.

The event is being kindly sponsored by Electricity North West and Northern Powergrid. A variety of other sponsorship opportunities are available and if you are interested in exhibiting, please contact events@communityenergyengland.org.