TT Conference 2012

About OVESCO

•Set up by a group of Lewes residents who meet at a Transition Town Lewes Open Space day in 2006 about energy

•Two companies Ouse Valley Energy Services Co Ltd (2006) and OVESCO Limited an Industrial & Provident Society for community benefit (2010)

Working with Transition Town Lewes and others – energy advice and grants

So you want to set up a community energy project?

• Cash

• Confidence

• Commitment

• Community Benefit

You are building a sustainable business for the future

You are looking after peoples hard earned money!

You are creating a new kind of company

REconomy

It’s hard work, but it’s also FUN & REWARDING

Share launch night in 2011

Our 1st Community energy project Harveys Brewery warehouse PV project

• Successful launch of 1st share issue - raised £356,810 with 247 investors

• The Harveys PV project - 98kWp 545 PV panels – Capital investment £306,000 inc setup costs – project commissioned 27th July 2011

• Total generation for year 1st year – 92,100 kWh almost reaching our prediction of 92,361 kWh in low a sunlight year for PV generation

• Calculated Income from generation for 1st year - Feed-in-Tariff (£31,088) & Invoiced export to grid (£) = £357 Total = £31,445

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12

First Year 30th July 2011 - 29th July 2012

Mon

thly

Out

put (

kWh)

ExportHarveys Use

69%

75%

45%

77%

91%93%

86%

79%73%

83%

93%

82%

55%

31%

25%

23%

9%7%

7%14%

21%

27%

17%18%

Total Generation:- 92,100 kWhUsed by Harveys:- 73,540 kWh (79%)Exported:- 19,355 kWh (21%)

83%

17%

2012 Projects – PV is easy to get started on, but watch the incentives (FiT & ROC’s)

More Government policy to support social enterprises would help!

Recent projects installed in July 2012:

•Project 2 - Priory School 35kWp – Supported by the schools Eco Group•Project 3 - Barcombe Nurseries 9Kwp – On site chillers match PV generation•Project 4 - Brickyard Farm 19.5kWp – The Secret Campsite & edible garden

Total invested in PV to date for all four projects (161.5kWp) = £416,966

Some of the income is set aside to manage the projects and keep OVESCO in business

HarveysDepot

Priory School

Brickyard Farm

BarcombeNursery

Cost £306,000 £59,833 £33,533 £17,600

Rating 98 kW 35 kW 19.5 kW 9 kW

Predicted Output

92,300 kWh p.a. 40,580 kWh p.a. 18,525 kWh p.a. 8,216 kWh p.a.

Predicted Earnings

£31,445 p.a. £6,168 p.a. £2,815 p.a. £1,380 p.a.

Return on Investment

10.2% p.a. 10.3% p.a. 8.4% p.a. 7.8% p.a.

Income & comparing the projects – Current ROI before project costs

What’s next?

• We are currently undertaking a feasibility for a 50-250kWp community wind turbine identified in LEAF funded report for Barcombe Parish

• We looked at a CHP biomass district heating scheme using LEAF funding

• We are seeking potential sites for a field scale PV array in East Sussex and OVESCO welcomes land owners to come forward with potential sites of a community project

• We are constantly investigating new locations for potential renewable energy project

• We are working with other communities to share knowledge and skills to develop community projects with a financial return on investment

• We have continued to support the local community with advices on energy efficiency

Some barriers, questions and solutions

• The Feed-inTariff is amazing, but cut backs have seen it’s potential eroded especially for community energy projects. The industry has shrunk in size!

• We need clear policy and stability - December 2011!

• Is the Government committed to community lead renewable energy?

• Look at what Germany has done with the Feed-in Tariff, 25% of day time electricity from PV one day in the summer!

• Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and community? Woolhope Woodheat is one example!

• How do we scale up?

• Switch suppliers – Friends of the Earth Campaign support Good Energy & Ecotrcity

• A voice for community energy projects – Community Energy Network?

You need support? OVESCO has been working with

This is only the beginning for us

Do it yourself peoples power stations!How can we help you?

www.ovesco.co.uk