
Local energy, Local people, Local benefit

Could you be part of Scilly’s sustainable future?
The Isles of Scilly Community Venture is looking for early adopters who live on the Isles of Scilly to help us set up a pilot scheme for a ‘Energy Local’ network.

How do Energy Local clubs work?
Once established, members of the ‘Energy Local Scilly’ club would use local, clean power as it is generated to save money.
Currently, electricity generated at the airport is sold to a national supplier and consumers buy it back at a higher price.
Energy Local clubs enable households to come together and show they are using local, clean power when it is generated. They agree upon a better price for local generators and they have the potential to reduce their bills, keeping more money local.
How to benefit?
To gain the most benefit, you would need to shift some of your electricity demand to times when the sun is shining (to link with the solar panels) and the cheaper ‘match rate’ is available.
This would involve switching your supplier to 100Green, the UK’s only supplier of 100% green gas and renewable electricity, and having a smart meter installed if you don’t already have one.
Members of the Club who use power when the Airport Solar Garden is making electricity will be charged a lower unit price, known as a ‘match rate'.
When insufficient power is being generated by the Solar Garden to meet the needs of club members (e.g. after dark), you will be on 100Green’s ‘time of use tariff’ with its strong environmental credentials.
Please note that this is a pilot scheme and we are looking to test the Energy Local concept on Scilly to make sure it saves people money before rolling it out on a larger scale.
The Isles of Scilly Community Venture is a not-for profit company focused on developing projects that will help Scilly become fit for the future – self-sufficient, resilient and low carbon.
More about community energy
BBC (2016) Bethesda energy club shares hydro power in UK first
BBC (2022) Bethesda hydro scheme cuts electricity bills by 25%
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Daily Telegraph (2022 - paywall): ‘We’re not worried about gas prices – we make our own energy’
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Octopus Energy: Meet Energy Local
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UK Parliament: Call For Evidence (2024)
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