Energy Local: working towards cheaper, greener energy bills for local people in Bristol

Bristol Energy Network are launching a pioneering project as part of Mission Net Zero that aims to connect residents directly to local renewable energy and deliver fairer prices, through the innovative Energy Local model. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Bristol Energy Network (BEN), Energy Local, and a dedicated team of local volunteers and Energy Champions.

Lucy Lifton, Communications Manager at BEN, shares more about this opportunity and how it could provide real help to local residents struggling with their energy bills.

So, what exactly is the Energy Local model?

It brings local people together to create an Energy Local Club. Members of the club can have greater control over their pricing structures by directly linking up to a local, renewable energy generator – this could be a solar array on a rooftop or a similar local source.

In early summer, we kicked off this journey by bringing together 17 people for a series of training sessions with Mary Gillie, the pioneer of the Energy Local model.

When the local generator is producing power (for example, during a sunny day), the Energy Club members can use that clean, cheaper power directly, paying a lower price than they otherwise would. This structure creates a strong incentive for residents to shift their energy consumption to match when the local green energy is being generated.

Power for the community, by the community

How does the Energy Local model benefit people?

1. Fairer prices: by keeping energy generation local, and matching usage to generation, Clubs can keep costs down for members.
2. Renewable energy: the model works on renewable energy generators in the local area – meaning club members are choosing greener, homegrown energy generation.
3. Communities have a say: Energy Local clubs are driven by people, for the benefit of local people. Each group is governed by a committee team, ensuring that members have a say in how each group is shaped and what its priorities are for the community.

We have begun working closely with Nick Banks, an Energy Champion, social researcher, and technical expert specialising in energy demand and sustainability.

Nick is a senior researcher in Local Energy Systems with the Energy Group at the Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University. He is stepping into the vital role of Advisor for the setting up of our first Energy Local Club. He is being supported by us at BEN and a team of keen and passionate volunteers, to create a club that is steered by the principles of a just energy transition. Our plans are to focus the benefits of this first Energy Local Club on those who are most affected by rising energy costs.

The collaborative effort between BEN, Energy Local, our Energy Champions, and local residents is key. By bringing together this engaged community of volunteers, we are building the essential capacity and skills needed to roll out this model across the city.

The journey to a truly local, fair, and green energy system has begun. If you’d like to see more about how the Energy Local model works in practice, see Energy Local Totnes’s website, and watch their feature on BBC’s The One Show.

Get involved

We are actively building up this community of Energy Champions and Energy Local volunteers to help take practical steps toward a fairer, more resilient energy system

If you are as passionate as we are about keeping value local and helping accelerate the shift to renewable power, we would love for you to get involved.

To get involved in this exciting project, learn more about our upcoming club developments, and hear about future training opportunities, join the Energy Champions newsletter today.

The Energy Local Project is an Energy Champions initiative, part of Mission Net Zero and funded by Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme.

Learn more about Mission Net Zero