Eastgate Renewable Energy Village |
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| Name of the project | Eastgate Renewable Energy Village |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Description | Using solar, wind, hydro and biomass sources to generate electricity, the community surrounding the area can reap the benefits of increased employment and tourism as well as low cost and sustainable energy. The project is now in the finalizing stages of gaining permission to start the development. At this stage the ownership of the area will transfer to the community, free of charge. |
| Project developer | Weardale Task Force |
| Start date | 30-11-1999 |
| Financing sources | Grant from the dept of energy and climate change. |
| Initiator | Weardale Task Force |
| Investor(s) | Lafarge Cement, One NorthEast, local community |
| Project owner | Weardale Task Force |
| Actors who receive benefits | Local community, non profit organisation still to be created |
| Legal background | The project is mainly possible because the cement company wished to return the area to the community, free of charge, in a way which would be beneficial to its economic development. Currently, the municipality is in the process of researching any liabilities concerning this transaction prior to accepting it. |
| Background information | With the departure of the local cement company (Blue Circle was bought by Lafarge Cement UK ) from the cement quarry, Eastgate lost a large source of income and employment. It was therefore promised by Lafarge Cement UK. that there would be an alternative use for the location, one that would restore economic benefits in the community. When a geothermal source was found, providing naturally heated water of a quality usable for a spa, the area was immensely attractive to use as a eco-friendly touristic destination. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Benefits in kind Local contracting Local employment Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Wind power Hydropower Solar energy Bio-fuel Geo-thermal energy |
| Application of BSM | Benefits in kind: Local contracting: The work which needs to be done in the development stages of the project is delegated to local contractors as much as possible, generating temporary employment for the local community. Local employment: As the project will result in a small scale renewable energy showroom, there will be permanent employment in maintenance and operation. Furthermore, there will be indirect effects due to the increased tourism, which will generate jobs in hospitality businesses, as well as other economic activities. Indirect social benefits: The project is designed to attract various sectors of tourism, as it provides for a spa as well as a showroom for five different methods for harvesting renewable energy sources. |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | The Lafarge Cement company facilitates the project by donating the area to the community. Local government stimulates the project by streamlining the process of permit application, having a facilitating role between the developers and the local community, as well as providing information to its citizens. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on socio-political level or market acceptance | This project is one of the first in the UK which uses such a large variety of energy sources. If the project works out to be as successful as anticipated, the use of renewable energy sources as a (new) source of income to a region as well as an attraction for tourists, could be stimulated and repeated within the country as well as in the rest of Europe. |
| Website | http://www.davidlock.com/weardale2/ |
Samsø renewable energy island |
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| Name of the project | Samsø renewable energy island |
| Country | Denmark |
| Description | In 1997 the Danish Ministry of Energy arranged a competition among Danish islands to become 100% self-sufficient in energy based on renewables. The proposal from the Samsø island was assessed to be the most feasible and realistic. The concept builds on energy saving measures and the following and the construction of eleven 1 MW land based mills, ten 2,3 MW off shore wind turbines and four small straw-fired district heating plants. |
| Project developer | Samsø Energy company |
| Start date | 01-01-1997 |
| Total investment (€) | Approximately 48 million |
| Financing sources | Shareholder equity Debt-finance Subsidies from the government |
| Initiator | Samsø municipality and Samsø Environment and energy office as response to the competition arranged by the Ministry of Energy |
| Investor(s) | Land turbines: The total investment was € 9 million. € 7.36 million financed by the farmers owing the land (9 turbines). € 1.64 million financed by a cooperative with 430 shareholders (two turbines) |
| Project owner | Citizens of the island, the municipality and private investors |
| Actors who receive benefits | Citizens of the island, the municipality and private investors. |
| Legal background | The Danish law on electricity supply had at that time a provision ensuring a minimum price for electricity produced by wind turbines in the first 10. Thus, the minimum sales price for the first 12,000 KWh was € 0,08 and thereafter it was € 0,06. |
| Background information | The citizens were involved from the start in the planning of the project and all aspects have been debated continuously. The plans and projects have been adjusted along the road due to input from the local community and at the end the entire community accepted and supported the plans. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Local ownership/co-ownership Local contracting Local employment |
| Renewable energy source | Wind power Bio-fuel |
| Application of BSM | Co-ownership: Local co-ownership was offered to the citizens of the island in relation to both the land and the offshore wind turbines through cooperatives. Local contracting: In the period from 1998 to 2007 it is estimated that 20 fulltime jobs were created in relation to planning and construction of the projects. Especially when it came to the construction of the land based wind turbines and the district heating plants, local labour was used. However, these jobs do not exist any more, as the projects have been completed. Local employment: Now 6 people are occupied at Samsø Energy Academy advising the island citizens about energy projects and energy saving and sharing the experience gained through the renewable energy island project to the outside world. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Local community involvement. The outset of the project was an overall master plan which was approved by the ministry of energy. This has been an important tool throughout the project implementation. Political and financial support and involvement from the municipality. Fixed minimum price for the for electricity produced by wind turbines . |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | It was the municipality that submitted the application for the competition to be renewable energy island. In order to organize the project and involve the citizens, a secretariat was established by a local NGO "Samsø energy and environment office". Later on, the energy company "Samsø Energy company" was established in order develop the specific projects and ensure the financing. This company was established by the municipality, the local trade organization and Samsø energy and environment office. When the majority of the projects were established the energy company was closed down. A new organization has been established under the name Samsø Energy Academy. Its role is to further develop the project , give professional advice to citizens considering to develop their own projects as well as to disseminate the experience . |
| Difficulties which had to be overcome | According to the master plan bio gas plants should have been part of the overall project. The island produces sufficient manure and organic waste. However, as the price for electricity generated from bio gas was too low, it turned out not to be feasible. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on community acceptance | The possibility for the citizens to become shareholders has created a positive attitude towards renewable energy installations in the community. The focus on renewable energy has encouraged many people on the island to engage in small private projects such as private solar panels and heat pumps. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on socio-political level or market acceptance | There is great interest from other parts of Denmark as well as internationally to learn from Samsø´s experience. It has created a great deal of "renewable energy tourism". These are frequently visitors from the Far East. |
| Website | http://www.energiakademiet.dk/ |
Texel Energy |
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| Name of the project | Texel Energy |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Description | Texel Energy is a small scale energy company which supplies energy originating from renewable energy sources to consumers on the island of Texel, as well as to those in the rest of the country. The company started out with supplying the energy it purchased from other producers, but has the goal to be self-sufficient in the future, using geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and solar power. The first step towards this was taken when the first windmill was put in service in the beginning of 2010. |
| Project developer | Texel Energy |
| Start date | 01-01-2007 |
| Financing sources | Shareholder equity Subsidies |
| Initiator | A group of Texel citizens, starting up Texel Energy |
| Project owner | Shareholders |
| Actors who receive benefits | Shareholders, Texel community |
| Legal background | Texel Energy does not aim at making a profit. It uses the proceeds to invest in the company, which will be beneficial to the local Texel economy. Investments are made in the use of new technology for renewable energy harvesting, such as tidal waves for electricity. The island can be used as an example for other area's, a sort of showroom of various renewable energy projects. The Texel economy will also be stimulated through the creation of jobs within the projects itself. |
| Background information | Texel energy appeals to the Texel inhabitants due to its small scale. The company has an office on the island, which can be visited freely, customers do not feel the distance they experience with large companies and call centres. With a population of only 13.783 the small scale approach is sustainable. Texel Energy has been successful in their bottom-up strategy as they started out as a small company, located on the island with close ties to their consumers, a method which appealed to their target market and therefore created a substantial consumer base. With a steady income the investments for self generation of renewable energy could be made. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Local ownership/co-ownership Local contracting Local employment Energy price reduction Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Wind power Hydropower Solar energy Bio-fuel Geo-thermal energy |
| Application of BSM | Local ownership/co-ownership: Customers of Texel Energy buy shares by becoming a member, at a fee of €50. This membership allows them to use the energy supplied by Texel Energy at a discounted rate. Memberships can also be purchased by anyone who wishes, without the obligation of becoming a customer. Local contracting: Texel Energy aims to use local employees for the construction of its expanding business model as much as possible. Local employment: The goal is to use sustainable energy sources on the island to produce all the electricity and heat required. The harvesting of these sustainable resources will create new employment opportunities. Furthermore, as that most of the shareholders are Texel citizens,each investment made into the company benefits the local economy. Energy price reduction: When becoming a member, the renewable energy is supplied with a discount. Indirect social benefits: These stem from the potential Texel has in becoming a showroom due to the innovative technologies Texel Energy plans to put to use in the near future. Even though the island is already a popular destination for tourists, the renewable energy projects will increase this due to its appeal to a broader crowd, and will spread the flow of tourism more evenly towards the colder months. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Texel Energy is successful because it used a bottom-up technique, which means that it started small and is proceeding in achieving its goals by taking incremental steps. The first step was to attract investors through co-ownership. Most of these investors are also consumers, making sure there is a steady source of income. The next step is to not only deliver renewable energy, which is purchased from another supplier, but to also produce locally. Wind energy is now produced by Texel Energy and the goals is to take gradual steps towards an island fully reliant on renewable energy sources. With the bottom-up approach, Texel Energy did not need to look for large investors or apply for large sums of government funding. Slowly but steadily the company can achieve its goals. By staying small it remains true to its initial values, to be a local energy supplier, supplying to the Texel community. |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | Local consumers enable Texel Energy to develop, as they provide the initial capital through their membership fee and an income base through their consumption. The local and national government have supplied Texel Energy with subsidies, which are put in place for initiatives which increase the share of renewable energy sources in the total energy supply, as well as initiatives which promote the use of these renewables. Texel Energy applies both these characteristics, and therefore qualified for these subsidies. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on community acceptance | Community Acceptance: Texel Energy has used the small scale of the Texel community and the value that it places on local initiatives, local companies to develop a strong relationship with its consumers. The fact that the company is founded by locals with an aim to cater to locals creates strong support. Having a wide scale of renewable energy sources at its disposal, the implementation of the renewable energy projects as it is planned at this point will create a source of knowledge, the local community gains access to this as well. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on socio-political level or market acceptance | Texel Energy aims to have Texel become a showroom to the world. The method it takes has effect, the first windmill is in use. Texel Energy can therefore be a good example to replicate in other locations, perhaps with similar small communities. |
| Website | www.texelenergie.nl |