Distributing power? Community energy projects' experiences of planning, policy and incumbents in the devolved nations of Scotland and Wales

Abstract

Community-owned energy projects are viewed as compelling contributors towards renewable energy targets. They contribute to curtailing the use of carbon intensive energy sources, consequently aiding mitigation of climate change, and can contribute towards a sustainable, localised economy. The success and expansion of the sector varies. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the development of the sector between sub-state nations. This qualitative, comparative study looks at the sector in the sub-state, devolved nations of Wales and Scotland within the UK. Through a series of in-depth interviews with community energy practitioners in four case study sites in Scotland and Wales, this study shows how policy and governance practices can influence the sector and those working at grassroots level. The study shows a disparity in confidence and outlook for the sector, based on the perceived (in)effective governance in each devolved nation.

Keywords:

• community energy
• devolved energy policy
• Scotland
• Wales

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participants from the communities of Llanfechell, Llanaelhaearn, Siabost and Tiree who volunteered their time, knowledge and insights towards developing this piece of research. This paper builds upon original research carried out for a PhD thesis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Companies that distribute electrical energy across the UK. A Distribution Network Operator is a company licensed to distribute electricity from transmission network to local homes and businesses. In the UK, there are 14 different DNO regions, managed by just six operators (all Private Limited Companies) (Anaya and Pollitt 2013).

2. Small to medium sized enterprises.

3. Technical Advice Note 8: Renewable Energy.

4. Minister for Local Government and Communities, 2011–2013; Minister for Natural Resources in the Welsh Government 2013-2016

5. Launched in 2010, the ‘Big Society’ concept that had been included in the Conservative party's pre-2010 election manifesto, was an attempt to ‘encourage greater volunteering and philanthropy’ in society, although also criticised for attempting to justify cutting public services and spending (BBC, 2010).

6. A payment for small renewable energy producers.

7. Renewables Obligation Certificates.

8. There are other figures suggesting higher numbers, and this difference is likely due to the inclusion of community organisations that have installed PV on the roofs of their buildings (for example) but were not necessarily set up as community energy organisations. See ‘Energy Generation in Wales’ (Welsh Government, 2016).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, with further supportive funds from Business on Anglesey and the UK Research Councils under the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/M008150/1].