Charsfield Community Energy is a project set up by Charsfield Parish Council to look into the feasibility and possible implementation of local, community-owned electricity generation for the village.
Why this project exists
Rising energy costs and a changing climate have prompted communities across the UK to ask the same question: could we generate our own power, rather than simply consuming what’s supplied to us at prices set by the big energy companies?
Charsfield Parish Council established this project to find out whether that’s realistic here — and if so, how to do it in a way that fits the village, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution.
If the project is feasible, our current plan will be to form a Community Benefit Society with the purpose of providing secure electricity supplies at affordable prices for the village with profits being fed back into the community through a fund overseen by the parish council.
Our approach
We’re not interested in a single giant solar farm covering agricultural land. Instead, we’re exploring a mix of smaller-scale technologies — ground-mounted solar, agri-voltaic systems that allow farming and energy generation on the same land, and wind — to find a combination that’s right-sized for Charsfield and respectful of how the land is currently used.
Who’s involved
The project is overseen by a working group, on behalf of Charsfield Parish Council and drawing on management and technical skills and knowledge from the Deben Climate Centre.
We’d like you to be involved too! There will be no imposed developments. This is about Our village, Our project and Our democratic choices.
Contacts
Working group
We have a small group of volunteers who are taking the project through the early stages.
- Steve Ayleward
- Peter Clitheroe
- John. Collins
- Martin Lyne
- Chris Nice
If the idea of local electricity for local people appeals to you, we’re very open to more people bringing their skills to the working group. Please get in touch.
Parish Council Chair – Simon Rixon
Deben Climate Centre (project partner) – Eddie Bryant and Josh Masters
Governance note
Charsfield Community Energy operates under Charsfield Parish Council.