Category Archives: Community Energy

SHARE Update


South Hill Association for Renewable Energy
Community Group

Fundraising

We are pleased to announce that SHARE has been shortlisted for funding from the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund.  This year £300,000 will be awarded to support renewable energy projects and technologies across the UK.  Last year 25 projects received funding, and this year we hope to earn our share.

The project we are proposing is to install a Tesla Powerwall 2 energy store at the Parish Hall to take full advantage of the roof-top solar PV system. At present, this is only of direct use to Hall users during the day, and excess generation is exported to the National Grid.  With batteries, energy could be stored and used during the evenings too.  This is particularly exciting in view of the recent announcement by the government that they plan to support the further development of battery technology for this purpose.

The judges base their decisions partly on the merit of the project, but also on support from the public. The voting and crowdfunding stage will take place in September and October.  Our fund –raiser, Astrid Fischer, has just started working on the next stage of the M&S bid.  A small team is already helping her to expand support for our project.  If you are able to help please step forward.

AGM – Thursday September 21st 2017, 7:30pm Continue reading →

South West Water Money Saving Schemes


Money saving schemes from South West water and are really great for families on low incomes /family tax credit / benefits.
One policy particularly benefits those on low incomes with 3 or more children or a household with someone who has a medical condition that requires more water to be used.

Watercare http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10776 

You may qualify for a social tariff to help reduce your bill if you are on a very low income. You may qualify if:

1.     You are on a water meter or on assessed charges

2.     The person who pays the water bill or someone in your household receives one or more of the following means tested benefits:
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit (guaranteed element)

3.     Your ‘equivalised’ weekly income, after housing costs, is less than £295 

Watershare http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/watersure

Help with metered bills – the WaterSure Tariff

You may qualify for a lower bill if you receive a means-tested benefit or tax credit.

WaterSure can help you if you have a low-income and your water is measured by a meter. We can put a limit on your charges for water and sewerage services, if you meet the following conditions.

1.  Your supply is metered

2. The person who pays the water bill or someone else in your household receives benefit  or tax credit

3. There are either:

  • three or more children under the age of 19 living in the household for whom the person receiving the above benefit also claims Child Benefit; or
  • you or someone living in your household has a medical condition which causes  extra water to be used.

FREE Money Saving Products savewatersavemoney.co.uk/southwest/free-water-saving-products  

Info sourced by SHARE South Hill Association for Renewable Energy www.south-hill.co.uk/share

SHARE Fun Day


The SHARE in our Community Free Family Fun Day was an amazing success on Bank Holiday Monday. There have never been so many children in Golberdon Park, estimated around 300 people in total, all enjoying the activities laid on by South Hill Parish Renewable Energy community group, S.H.A.R.E.

Events centered on energy and money saving tips, recycling and reducing waste, including Kicks Count charity, clothes alterations by Janet Harding, promoting cycling with E Bike demos and bike slalom course, planting seeds, foraging the hedgerows and an energy science project. Plus The Big Beat Junk Band invited everyone to join in and make lots of noise.

“South Hill Rocks” was launched as rocks were painted and hidden around public spaces for people to find, then upload a photo to South Hill FB and re-hide, encouraging families to be creative and explore the area. Join in the fun, like South-Hill FB facebook.com/SouthHillParish or visit south-hill.co.uk/south-hill-rocks

Free Energy Saving Light-bulbs were donated by E-On, sunflower starter kits and grocery Bags for Life, donated by Tesco’s, Morrison’s and Waitrose were given away. A massive Thank you to everyone that helped make the day so special, to all that donated items, Tamar Organics, Spar, Launceston Cycles, Compton Park Farm Shop, Callington Fresh Produce, our generous parishioners, the South Hill W.I ladies for teas, the South Hill Horticultural Show for including the Sunflower class on August 19th. The car booters, the Police for providing leaflets on protecting property, Project Solar answering questions and giving energy advice and the families that came from near and far and team S.H.A.R.E for hosting such a great fun day. Learn more by contacting enquiries@ProjectSolarUK.com or call Simon on 07955522072.

South Hill Association for Renewable Energy (SHARE) a Community Benefit Society since June 2015. SHARE’s vision is “A secure and sustainable future for all, using community owned R.E to provide economic, social and environmental benefits.” Contact SHARE@south-hill.co.uk call Peter 01579 208519 and visit south-hill.co.uk/share

…. and the 50/50 of 140 pounds was won by a couple from Saltash, visiting for the day. finding and hiding SOUTH HILL ROCKS at Golberdon Park !

Save

SHARE in our Community Fun Day Pix


Trebartha Open Gardens n Hydro System


Trebartha  open the file for more info on Trebartha.

The Hydro system has been operational since December 2015. Water is taken off at the in take area on the Withey Brook, just below Hawks Tor, through a 1.2 kilometre stretch of pipe, dropping 90 metres down to the Turbine House. The turbine is a 4 jet vertical shafted pelton wheel, with a 350 kw generator. The power is fed to a high voltage transformer in the adjoining enclosure before being exported to the local WPD grid. The scheme is estimated to generate some 1,000 MWhs of energy a year – enough for some 2000 domestic properties – this could vary +/- 30% depending on rainfall.

NDP Free Big Breakfast


The event took place on Saturday 4th March from 9am – noon. The 86 visitors that attended saw exhibits from the WI, St Sampson’s Church, South Hill Piecemakers, SHARE, Justin from the NHS  demonstrating the defibrillator and South Hill Village Hall. The main attraction however, was a display of the Neighbourhood Development Plan alongside Councillors talking about the plan and our ambitions for footpaths in the Parish. The visitors were from all areas of the Parish including Golberdon, Maders, Berrio, Mornick, Trewoodloe, Trewassick, Lansugle, Egypt, Trevigro, South Hill, Bray Shop, Jericho, and  Manaton.

Continue reading →

SHARE – Networking and Generating Dec update


SHARE continues to work towards a more sustainable future for South Hill.  Our solar PV installations are generating well, and beginning to reap the rewards.  As you know, we are a Community Benefit Society (a “Bencom”) which means that our aim is to use profits to benefit the local community.

Since the 40kW rooftop PV array was installed at Church Park in June this year, we have now received our first payment for electricity exported to the National Grid, together with the Feed-in Tariff, and our first payment for the sale of electricity to Mark Pethick. We are happy that we have a good working relationship with Mark, who has been very patient and supportive during the development stage.

“The Role of Community Energy in a Changing Energy System”, presented by RegenSW in Exeter. The event, included presentations by representatives of several organisations . It was encouraging and inspiring to be with like-minded people from groups similar to ourselves in the South West. Tamar Energy Community (Tavistock), TRESOC (Totnes), Teign Energy Communities, Exeter Community Energy, Transition Network and more. We are not alone in our quest for a sustainable future in renewable energy.  It was also interesting and useful to chat with the business representatives present. Continue reading →

SHARE Update, April 2016


SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY HOURS:

the number of voluntary hours donated so far by SHARE’s Board and Management Committee as we work to fulfil our vision of a secure and sustainable future for all in South Hill Parish

We are now finalising a series of feasibility studies, paid for by a grant we received last year from energyshare.  A great deal of work has gone into this, not only by the SHARE team, but also Community Energy Plus (CEP) and Paul Martin of Kabin.  Within the next few weeks we will be able to present these results at a full Membership meeting.

Continue reading →