Energise Barnsley has been setup with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver community owned renewable energy and heating projects across the borough
Energise Barnsley has been developed through the partnership of several organisations and individuals who are collectively working together to help deliver lasting social impact across the Barnsley area.
Project PartnersBarnsley Metropolitan Borough CouncilBarnsley Council owns the assets where the solar PV is installed, and is the signatory to the solar licence and lease, between Energise Barnsley and the Council. The Council has worked hard with the Energise Barnsley team to develop protections within the solar licence and lease, to give robust protection for the cash flow over the project life. Generation Community VenturesGCV is the development arm of Gen Community, capitalised in 2015 by two leading charitable foundations, with the purpose to promote, develop and deliver community owned renewable energy, energy efficiency and heat projects nationally. Energise Barnsley uses Gen Community’s ‘‘Community Energy Model Rules 2015’ registered with the FCA. IgniteIgnite is the UK’s first impact investment fund with a focus on energy. Ignite invests people and money into emerging and mature organisations that have a clear vision of how they benefit society. Ignite made its largest investment to date by making a £2 million underwriting facility available to Energise Barnsley. Without this facility the domestic solar PV installations in late 2015 could not have gone ahead before the reduction in feed it tariff subsidy. British Gas SolarBG is the solar PV contractor to the project, and responsible for the solar PV design, installation and ongoing operations and maintenance. Furthermore, BG provides performance guarantees and warranties for the solar PV assets. |
Board MembersWendy Lowder – ChairActing Director of Communities, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Wendy has worked in Barnsley for the last 12 years. Her work brings her into contact with many people and groups across the borough all working hard to create a strong and vibrant borough. Wendy loves building partnerships as she is a strong believer that generally we achieve so much more when people pull together in the same direction. |
Faye TomsonDirector, Energise Barnsley Faye is a Chartered Energy Manager, CIBSE Heat Networks Consultant, ESOS Lead Assessor and daughter of one of the tenants who has received the solar PV installation. Faye’s area of expertise includes resource efficiency (energy waste and water) in both the industrial and domestic sector, and low carbon project development. Faye has 8 years of experience in taking projects from conception to initial feasibility, through to detailed feasibility, commercialisation and procurement.
Faye’s employment record includes private consultancy to multiple sectors, local authorities and for HM Government in the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) |
Jeremy SykesService Director Assets, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Jeremy originates from Barnsley has worked for the council for 36 years. A Chartered Water & Environmental Manager and Chartered Environmentalist he is passionate about reducing energy usage and installing low carbon technologies in buildings. Jeremy has track record in the successful delivery of sustainable and renewable energy projects across the borough, which contributed to the council winning the prestigious Ashden Award in 2006. |
Andy HealdDirector, Generation Community and Gen Community Ventures Andy holds an MSc Energy, Environmental Technology & Economics (Merit) from City University, London, a Securities Diploma and a BA Hons Political Theory & Economics (1993) from Liverpool University. He is the co-founder of Generation Community and Gen Community Ventures, and has been working in community energy since 2010.
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| “We see three things that are unique. Firstly, the team’s ambition – we see a lot of small community projects but nothing at this scale. Secondly, the fact they’ve really thought through the social impact – more so than the average proposal. It’s not only free electricity for low-income households, there’s a considerable amount of money going into the community fund as well. And lastly the attention to detail that has been paid to governance. How the Community Benefit Society is structured is very mature and how the different stakeholders will work together has been thought through very well.”
Sam Salisbury, Ignite |
