Sheffield Community Energy have announced a free event to emphasise the importance of small-scale community based sustainable energy projects.
Sponsored by Sheffield City Council, the event will be held at the Cemetery Road Baptist Church on Saturday from 10am-4pm, and will be made up of ten different workshops.
Dinah Ward from organisers Sheffield Community Energy said: “We are really trying to appeal to people and increase engagement to make community energy a real prospect.”
The workshops will explore the different types of sustainable energy including hydro, wind, solar, retrofit, and heat networks, arming people will the practical tools and vision to set up their own community energy projects.
Mrs Ward recognises the need for action at a national level to lead the UK towards a greener future but she also noted the role community energy will have in starting these conversations.
She said: “A lot of people are so frustrated that the national government just doesn’t have the will, and although we desperately need national action these community level projects are a good start.
“These projects are showing the national government that sustainable energy is more than possible to achieve, and they highlight the knock on benefits they have on the local community.”
Community energy projects are often non-profit social enterprises who create a financial benefit for their local community through easy accessibility to green energy at a lower cost, putting any surplus back into the local community.
Schemes already in action include Energise Barnsley, which is the largest local community energy solar project in the UK, and Torr Hydro in the peak district.
In an attempt to increase the number of these projects around South Yorkshire, the event will include talks from current energy projects offering advice, and showcasing lessons learnt.