According to the new research undertaken by the National Trust, as well as offering economic and environmental benefits, community owned renewable energy facilities also provide social benefits.
Mark Walton who did research on the Anafon Community Hydro Scheme in Wales found that those communities who generated their own energy requirements tended to be more resilient operated more autonomously and felt more empowered.
The rural Welsh village of Abergwyngregyn has over the last 40 years lost its pub, petrol station and shops all of which have damaged the social fabric of the community. Over the last decade however a group of local residents raised funds to renovate an old mill which now operates a snooker hall and is home to the community café.
The community invested £1 million to develop a 270 Kilowatt hydro facility that generates enough electricity to power the whole village with surplus being reinvested into the community.
National Trust environmental adviser Keith Jones who designed the scheme and approached the village with his idea for a partnership a few years back says:
‘Working with Abergwyngregyn village to develop the hydro scheme has been incredibly exciting and a great learning curve for everyone involved. Our expertise paired with a track record for delivery and willingness to make it happen has created a powerful partnership and opened the floodgates for further collaboration. We’re already working with the town of Bethesda to look into restoring an old 1929 quarry hydro, which we hope to go through feasibility in the next few months. If more organisations like us are willing to support these kinds of projects then the potential for community energy could be huge.’
Hywel Thomas who is the community group’s chairman said:
‘Support from the community has been fantastic. When it first began there were only a few members, but 60 people came to a meeting last month and all were in favour of the hydro, it was overwhelming.’
Image Courtesy of National Trust
