From a crowdfunding campaign in 2015 to installing solar panels on the roofs of Glasgow schools, here's how our community energy journey has unfolded.
Radical Renewable Art + Activism Fund (RRAAF) crowdfunding campaign launched by Ellie Harrison.
Crowdfunding campaign successful with 157 backers and £2,505 raised to commission Community Energy Scotland to write an initial scoping report.
Opportunities for new Community Energy: A Scoping Report for the Radical Renewable Art + Activism Fund launched at Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), Glasgow.
Crowdfunding backers and members of the public invited to attend the RRAAF Founding Symposium at CCA, Glasgow to agree the new organisation’s aims and values. Decision taken to constitute as a Community Benefit Society (BenCom).
Support secured from Co-operative Development Scotland (£1,470) to begin working with Jim Lee from Energy4All to help constitute as a BenCom.
Meeting at CCA, Glasgow to agree the new BenCom’s Rules and Objectives and to appoint founding members to the Board: Ellie Harrison, Cecilia Wee, Jain McIntyre, Jim Lee and Annette Heslop (from Energy4All).
The new BenCom Radical Renewable Art and Activism Community Energy Society Ltd (RRAACES) registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) by amending and renaming a dormant BenCom (Southern Community Energy Society Ltd), which had been registered by Energy4All on 23 June 2015.
Jim Lee and Ellie Harrison meet Calum Watkins and Ben Frazer from the University of Strathclyde to begin investigating possibilities for installing ground-mounted Solar Panels on vacant and derelict land in Glasgow.
Calum Watkins and Ben Frazer appointed to the Board.
CARES Enablement Grant secured (up to £19,233.38) for the ‘Glasgow Community Energy’ project to commission a feasibility study for installing ground-mounted Solar Panels on vacant and derelict land, and, if successful, to appoint a legal advisor.
Match funding secured from Create (£6,766.62) to fund a part-time Community Organiser to develop community connections in North East Glasgow.
Claire Williams appointed as Community Organiser for Glasgow Community Energy on a one-year contract (1 February 2019 – 31 January 2020).
Calum Watkins and Ben Frazer run series of workshops at schools in Easterhouse (including Ashton Secondary School).
Locogen commissioned to undertake the feasibility study, after a procurement process.
Locogen present feasibility study recommending roof-mounted Solar Panels on the roofs of six schools and public buildings in North East Glasgow.
Andy McAvoy and Barbara Vecchione from Retool Architecture undertake a community consultation on renewable energy for East Pollokshields on behalf of The Pollokshields Trust with funding from Architecture & Design Scotland. This results in proposals to install Solar Panels on Glendale Primary School.
Grant secured from Network for Social Change (£6,755) to employ a part-time Communications Organiser to develop social media networks.
Seven schools and public buildings across Eastern Glasgow pre-registered with Ofgem for the UK Government’s Feed-in Tariff (before the scheme closed on 31 March 2019), including Ashton Secondary School. Installation must be completed within one year.
The Pollokshields Trust pre-register Glendale Primary School (and two other buildings in the local area) with Ofgem for the UK Government’s Feed-in Tariff.
Community Energy Futures grant secured (£2,000) to work with Ben Reid-Howells on further community engagement in North East Glasgow.
Community Energy Fayre held in Easterhouse to engage local people in the project, with Seven Lochs Wetland Park, Glasgow Community Food Network, East End Flat-Pack Meals and the Pedal-Powered Sound System.
Richard Witney (On Site Generation) appointed as Project Manager to develop the project proposal for the seven pre-registered buildings and deliver the installations before the Feed-in Tariff deadline.
Follow-up meeting with local community organisations at Kelvin College, Easterhouse facilitated by Ben Reid-Howells.
Glasgow City Council’s Climate Emergency Working Group recommends support for Glasgow Community Energy, recommending the Council’s business support and planning services be made available to support community investment in renewable energy.
A series of five Community Energy Workshops held on Monday evenings at Garthamlock & Craigend Parish Church.
Zoe Dickson appointed to the Board following a summer internship with Energy4All.
Board Members meet Bill Fraser and Andy McAvoy from The Pollokshields Trust to discuss working together to deliver the seven sites pre-registered for Feed-in Tariff, plus the three additional sites pre-registered by The Pollokshields Trust.
Sophie Amono appointed as part-time Communications Organiser on a seven-month contract (1 October 2019 – 30 April 2020).
On Site Generation present report for a Glasgow-wide community energy project including installing Solar Panels at nine of the sites pre-registered for Feed-in Tariff.
Fraser Stewart appointed to the Board.
Project proposal submitted to Glasgow City Council to progress ongoing discussions to secure a legal agreement permitting installations to commence.
Absolute Solar & Wind appointed Principal Designer and Installer for the project, after a procurement process.
Andy McAvoy appointed to the Board.
CARES Development Loan awarded (up to £20,000) to develop designs, secure Building Warrants and a legal agreement with Glasgow City Council.
Calum MacLeod of Harper Macleod appointed as legal advisor to draft legal agreements.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, UK Government announces extension to the deadline for installing sites pre-registered for Feed-in Tariff (initially six months, later extended to one year, allowing until 29 March 2021).
Building Warrant secured for Glendale Primary School.
Building Warrant secured for Ashton Secondary School.
Grid Connections accepted for Ashton Secondary School and Glendale Primary School.
SPEN Green Economy Fund grant secured (£77,149.95) to fund two-thirds of capital costs of installing Solar Panels at Ashton Secondary School and Glendale Primary School.
CARES Bridging Loan secured (up to £41,361.00) to fund remainder of capital costs until re-financed through the Community Share Offer.
Electricity Supply Agreement signed with Glasgow City Council to supply electricity generated at the two schools to the Council at an inflation-protected fixed rate for 21 years (until 13 August 2041), and permit installations to commence.
Installation of Solar Panels at Ashton Secondary School commences (site commissioned on 20 September 2020).
UK Government announces further extension to the deadline for installing sites pre-registered for Feed-in Tariff (allowing until 29 March 2021 to complete installations).
Admin Services Contract (Agreement for Services) signed with Energy4All to support the administration of the BenCom (10 year contract with a break point at 2 years).
Insurance cover arranged with Naturesave for Public Liability, Employer’s Liability and Operational All Risks.
Memorandum of Understanding signed between Glasgow Community Energy and The Pollokshields Trust to transfer the Feed-in Tariff for Glendale Primary School to Glasgow Community Energy, in return for The Pollokshields Trust becoming a key partner community organisation and having a seat on the Board.
Installation of Solar Panels at Glendale Primary School commences (site commissioned 4 November 2020).
Feed-in Tariff Application for Ashton Secondary accepted by Ofgem (registration complete on 24 March 2021).
Claire Williams and Bill Fraser appointed to the Board (Bill Fraser as a representative of The Pollokshields Trust).
Completion Certificate accepted for Building Warrant at Glendale Primary School.
Feed-in Tariff Application for Glendale Primary School accepted by Ofgem (registration complete on 13 May 2021).
Completion Certificate accepted for Building Warrant at Ashton Secondary School.
Monitoring Services Contract signed with On Site Generation to monitor the performance of the Solar Panels at both schools (expires 30 September 2026).
Community Share Offer launched to recruit new members to the BenCom and re-finance the CARES Bridging Loan (closing date 18 June 2021).
Community Share Offer closes having received more than 170 applications and being successful in meeting the £30,000 target required to pay back the loan. We now have 182 members (154 individuals and 28 community organisations) across Glasgow and beyond.
The journey continues…
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