mark collinson wrap community energy rural community energy fund 300715

Rural Community Energy FundMark Collinson

Energy Sector Specialist

WRAP

What is RCEF ?

• £15m fund, £7.5 each from Defra and DECC – rolling programme

Rural Community Energy Fund

What is RCEF ?


• Community energy generation projects in rural areas


What is RCEF ?


• Community energy generation projects in rural areas

• Provides pre-planning development finance – NOT capital costs*; via:

• Stage 1: Grants up to £20k for a project’s feasibility study

• Stage 2: Loans up to £130k for detailed pre-planning process


Who can Apply ?

• Applicants must be a legally constituted community based entity:

• Parish Council

• CIC

• Bencom

• IPS (Co-operative)

• Charity


What have we achieved ?• 99 Stage 1 applications – 61 awarded (60%)

• Hydro; Wind; Biomass; PV; G/WSHP

• £980,000

• 55MW combined capacity - 50MWp; 5MWth


What have we achieved ?• 99 Stage 1 applications – 61 awarded (60%)

• Hydro; Wind; Biomass; PV; G/WSHP

• £980,000

• 55MW combined capacity - 50MWp; 5MWth

• 5 Stage 2 applications – 2 awarded (2 pending, 1 on hold)

• AD; Hydro

• £224,000

• Combined capacity 650kW – 400kWp; 250kWth


How does that breakdown? (14th May 2015)


6

13

13

20

3

AD

Biomass

Hydro

Solar PV

Wind

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Application process• Visit the website: wrap.org.uk/renewables



• Read the guidance and FAQs




• Download the pack





• Return to WRAP





• Return to WRAP

• 2 week – 6 week turn around process*


What makes a good application ?• Community benefit – independent fund ? Legacy – what is it ?



• Clearly defined (single ?) project idea




• How will this project actually make a difference to the community ?





• Demonstration of your decision to choose said project






• Evidence of prior community engagement and acceptability of ideas






• Evidence of prior community engagement and acceptability of ideas

• Evidence of prior key stakeholder engagement (EA, planners, anglers)


What makes a good application ?• Evidence of grid connection possibilities for power projects



• Evidence of a clear, transparent consultancy procurement process




• Avoid self-awarding – at all costs





• Application from a suitable and demonstrable legal entity






• Consider any reasons the funders may have to turn down the project






• Consider any reasons the funders may have to turn down the project

• THEN ADDRESS THEM !


What’s in a feasibility study ?• Executive Summary

• Community Engagement

• Community Benefit

• Technology (i.e., the project)

• Financial Projections


What’s in a feasibility study ?• Planning and Permitting

• Site details (i.e., landowner agreements, lease costs, grid connection)

• Operation and Governance

• Scheduling

• Conclusions and next steps


What happens next ?• New Government:

`



• Amber Rudd, Sec of State - Andrea Leadsom, Minister of State;

`




• Incentives stability ?

`





• Policy ?

`





• Policy ?

• Wind Moratorium

`





• Policy ?

• Wind Moratorium – ROCs only.





• Policy ?


• Ground mount large scale PV:





• Policy ?



• C&I rooftop feasibility ? Legal/structural issues ?





• Policy ?



• C&I rooftop feasibility ? Legal/structural issues ?

• Grid connection – Route F, LV, PW, heat.


mark collinson wrap community energy rural community energy fund 300715

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