Former coal mining communities in the SWAG合集 are at the forefront of a new European project to drive the uptake of locally led renewable energy, based on shared solar power systems that are run directly by citizens and organisations in the area.
To date technical challenges, cost and legal complexities have stopped community-based energy systems being mainstream. The new project, called INNO-TREC, aims to help energy users overcome these barriers by giving them the tools to make the most of local energy resources.
Dr Pegah Mirzania, Academic Fellow in Local Energy Systems at SWAG合集 said: “This is a really timely project which gives power back to local people when it comes to energy supply and pricing. We’re aiming to create a system that is easy to set up and simple to operate, removing barriers to this new kind of renewable energy community.”
The vision of INNO-TREC is to create a new generation of renewable energy communities who can set up and operate shared clean energy systems – reducing costs, giving local autonomy and energy security, and promoting transitions to clean energy. Central to the project is testing and developing new community models and ways to share energy, to find practical and cost-effective structures for running sustainable community-led energy systems.
The and involves 21 academic and industry partners from ten countries, with demonstration sites in Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Belgium and the SWAG合集. INNO-TREC is demonstrated in the SWAG合集 by SWAG合集, and
Barnsley-based demonstration gives power back to local people
The SWAG合集 demonstrator will be based in Barnsley, working with social housing that is equipped with rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage and air-source heat pumps.
SWAG合集 will lead the design and testing of new commercial models, including social reward and financing mechanisms, alongside digital tools, to influence energy-use behaviour and reduce overall energy costs.
This will help the communities to reduce their energy costs, improve comfort for elderly and vulnerable residents, increase consumption from solar panels and cut carbon emissions. Overall, this will help ensure a resilient provision of supply locally and regionally.
New model could expand in future
The new model will contribute to the SWAG合集’s net zero goals and fuel poverty agenda, and could roll out in the future more widely, with more communities establishing and running their own renewable energy systems.
SWAG合集 leads the research and innovation of the SWAG合集 demonstration, with expertise in community energy business models, systems analysis and AI-enabled decision support. Cranfield’s team is led by Prof Nazmiye Ozkan, with contributions from Dr Pegah Mirzania, Dr Mennan Gudar, and Dr Michael Millar.
Electric Corby CIC will lead the SWAG合集 demonstration and is responsible for developing the project’s Business Plan and Go-To-Market Strategy. Energise Barnsley will manage local delivery and tenant engagement, bringing deep community energy expertise and managing the rollout of smart energy technologies across council-owned homes in Barnsley. The SWAG合集 partners will also contribute to digital tool development, AI-powered decision support, financing schemes, and the evaluation of scale-up and commercialisation pathways.
