Generating community energy for social impact

Working with local authorities

Community Energy Conference – 5th Sept 2015

Saïd Business School

Jamie Mansfield – Director Gen Community

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Background

My journey

Energy engineering masters graduate

Co-founded Gen Community (solar PV to combat fuel poverty)

£1m+ community investment (wind/solar PV)

Design projects for maximum social impact

REA 2014 Community Energy Award – “innovative finance”

Cabinet Office funding to develop Solar Social Bond model

Partnership with British Gas & Social Finance to scale

Community Energy Model Rules 2015 – Sponsoring body

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Gen Community model

Our approach

Deliver locally owned & governed energy projects

Offers genuine alternative to commercial models

Aim is to maximise social impact and long term benefits (not just about electricity!)

Working with local authorities and housing associations (strong need & scalable)

Collaboration with other community groups

Creates locally governed community benefit societies to distribute funds

£5m+ projects (e.g. 2500 homes)

Scalable and looking beyond solar PV – Energy Service Company model

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Scaling community energy for social impact

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How it works

“Community Power Company”

Community Benefit Society

Development & asset management agreement

Institutional debt investor

LocalCommunity

Fund

Community investors

EIS Shares

Amortising bond

Board position of CBS & community fund

80% of Capital

20% of Capital

All projectsurpluses

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Summary:

17,211 council owed homes

circa 6,800 tenants on prepayment meters (segment survey)

24%-34% of children live in poverty (NorthernHousingConsortium.org 2014)

10% of housholds in fuel poverty (DECC 2014)

Forecasted £17.8m household electricity savings

£2.5m+ community fund to deliver targeted support:

fuel & debt clinics

“green doctors”

Barnsley MBC Community Director to assist in delivery

Energise Barnsley

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What can prove difficult:

Speed of decision making at LAHAs

Maintaining momentum of LAHAs & unlocking key personnel

Unravelling complexity of community model and multi stakeholders

Understanding governance & sign off process (asset/legal/finance signoff)

Procurement/OJEU?

Policy impacts – digression, right to buy, DECC inconsistency

A ‘free solar model’ – so where is the hook, commitment, risk management?

Combining low carbon technologies, finance, policy, social impact, community

engagement and legal all in one model

Challenges

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Generation Community Limited34 Bedford Row,

London

WC1R 4JH

0207 611 5285

James Mansfield

07747 335841

James@gen-community.co.uk

With thanks to Holly Southall from Millbrook Primary School, Newport