A report by Ofgem on how community energy projects can overcome grid connection problems, has received a cautious welcome from a new body representing the sector.
Community Energy England (CEE) said the recommendations passed on to Ed Davey must now be followed up on. CEE said the minister must ensure he fulfilled his promise to deliver concrete results from working groups that were themselves a result of the government’s Community Energy Strategy.
“This means that the government needs to instruct Ofgem on interpreting its rules more flexibly, so it can differentiate the treatment of community energy groups,” said Peter Capener, CEE director.
“Unlike commercial developers, community energy projects are constrained by geography and resources when they need connections. These enterprises offer substantial benefits to UK energy policy and so need particular recognition in this key area,” he added.
The report, drawn from the working group’s discussions, suggests blocking out some capacity for community energy projects when parts of the grid are upgraded and permitting locally owned groups to pay in instalments for their grid connection.
The full report is available on the Ofgem website.