"Energy futures and civil society in the EUe gy utu es a d c soc ety t e Ubuilding a low carbon alliance“

Transition & OVESCOTransition & OVESCO

A talk by Chris Rowland

OVESCO is working with:

Transition - a switch

From centralised to decentralised power

Why do Transition? Our fears!

As part of the creation of 'The Transition Companion', we asked those involved in As part of the creation of The Transition Companion , we asked those involved in Transition why they do Transition. Here are the most common responses....

Because of Peak Oil

Because of climate change

Because of fear

Because of the economic crisis

Why do Transition? Our hopes!

But most common responses also included these positive responsesBut most common responses also included these positive responses....

Because it feels way more fun than not doing it

Because of wanting a fairer world

Because it means people do the projects they've always dreamed of

B it f l lik th t i t thi t b d iBecause it feels like the most appropriate thing to be doing

Because it gives me hope

2006 - one Transition Town in Totnes 2012 - 496 in Europe & over 900 world wide

The Transition movement: Today Totnes... tomorrow the world

Transition Town Lewes – TTL

Some of the TTL ProjectsSome of the TTL Projects

The Lewes Pound a local currency – TT Pound & Better Banking Groupy g p

Lewes Food Market for local produce – TT Food Group

Draught busting workshops – TT REconomy Group

OVESCO – TT Energy Group

The Ouse Valley Energy Services Company or OVESCOIs a TTL response to our future energy needs

The need to reduce energy consumption!

The current system wastes energyy gy& produces vast amounts of CO2 emissions

We need to decentralise our energy supply

A mix of local renewable power resources for homes, businesses, Community buildings and farmsCommunity buildings and farms

Local empowerment to achieve greater success

OVESCO - a community owned renewable energy company

Local empowerment to achieve greater success

Local employment to stimulate the economy & build resilience to shocks

Local ownership to increase the wealth in the community

A Community Interest Company for community benefit to raise capital for projectsA Community Interest Company for community benefit to raise capital for projects

OVESCO Supporting the Community

• Council grants and loans• Council grants and loans

• MSC registered installers for microgeneration

• Help with the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

• Help with insulation and making the right choices for the public – Green DealHelp with insulation and making the right choices for the public Green Deal

One of the UK’s First Community owned PV Power station?

How does it work?

The Feed-in Tariff makes the project viable.

OVESCo as an IPS for community benefit

• All investors have equal rights

• Share issue from OVESCo £250-£20,000,

• OVESCO registered for Enterprise Investment Scheme

• Return on investment 4% from third year for 25 years

• Importantly investors can get involved and support local decentralised power

Communities for Renewables and Regen SW are delighted to report a major success in our campaign to ensure that the government’s proposals to exclude “Feed in tariffs businesses” from the Enterprise Investment Scheme

(EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) does not apply to social enterprises.

Lobbying Government works!

Make change happen for the benefit of your community

As a not for profit organisation OVESCo would:

• Give a any surplus profit to support future projects.

• Support the public with energy advice• Support the public with energy advice.

• Build a portfolio of local renewable energy projects

• We have 250 investors and have raised over £350,000 for our first project.

B fit t H B ?Benefit to Harveys Brewery?

• Free electricity in return for lease of roof for 25 years.

• Good will and community involvement.

• Reduction on CO2 emissions• Reduction on CO2 emissions.

The project – 98kWp PV array or 545 panels at Harveys warehouse

Making it happen in Lewes – share launch night

Making it happen – Installing the PV array

The completed project - 27th July 2011

Our 2nd project – Priory School in Lewes – 35kWp

Barriers & needs to succeed!

Cl l t li bl• Clear long term policy on renewable energy

• Support from all government departments

• A fair & free market place for community renewables

• A Community Feed in Tariff & Renewable Heat Incentive or similar• A Community Feed-in Tariff & Renewable Heat Incentive or similar

• Funding for feasibility studies and set up costs

• Help to share knowledge

• Encouragement & help to scale upEncouragement & help to scale up

Other communities want to copy OVESCO

Making the transition to community power generation

Every citizen should have the right to invest in& benefit from community owned renewable power

Thank you www.ovesco.co.uk