It's been a busy summer, and while we've been giving you a breather from our updates, Repowering London has continued to create local energy in the capital. Here's a quick catch-up, including:

• Secretary of State launches funding for "People's Power" projects with Repowering London – A visit to East Ham Library played a part in media activity
• Report investigates government ECO scheme – Read all about our joint report with climate charity Possible
• Barnet celebrates its clean power – VIP visitors support a new solar install at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre 
• Minister energises the conversation at Stratford Library – Michael Shanks visits one of our supported solar installs in Newham 
• And more...

The Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Forhad Hussain, Mayor of Newham, (together, centre) and Sarah Merrick, GBE Managing Director of Local Energy (far right), met with community energy representatives including, Repowering London CEO Afsheen Kabir Rashid (third from right) at East Ham Library on 17 September as part of a GBE funding launch

Great British Energy has rolled out the first wave of funding intended to support "People's Power projects across the UK". The aim is for communities across the country to be able to "build and control their own energy supply", says the official press release issued on 17 September. 

The £30 million of funding just announced is described as a "first downpayment" on the up to £1 billion committed earlier this year to support local and community-led clean energy projects, which will be owned by community energy groups or local authorities. 

As part of the activity around the launch, representatives of Repowering London and Community Energy Newham (CEN) met with The Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security, and Sarah Merrick, GBE Managing Director of Local Energy, at East Ham Library to discuss the solar installation on the building’s rooftop.

CEN Directors Arifa Begum and Ruth Chiat (pictured above, far left) explained the journey of the project from feasibility study to installation to community ownership via a successful share offer. They also shared and the impact of the co-op's recent work with a resident-led Community Steering Group and residents of Newham’s Little Ilford ward as part of Repowering London’s Repowered Community Newham project (see more below). They stressed the importance of taking time to build local relationships and involve people who may be new to community energy, especially those who could benefit most from these projects. 

Also contributing to the discussion were Repowering London CEO Afsheen Kabir Rashid, Mayor of Newham Forhad Hussain, Andrew Kemp, Head of Strategy, Climate Action at Newham Council, and Duncan Law, Head of Policy for Community Energy England. 

About the funding announcement, Afsheen says: "This is the moment we have been waiting for. By working with our London communities and Local Authority partners we have built a strong pipeline and are ready to start getting these funds into the hands of London communities. We will of course be going back for more. So, keep it coming, GBE!"

The visit featured in the government's media campaign to suppport the launch.

Warmer homes require housing residents' engagement and trust

Repowering London has just published a joint report with climate charity Possible calling for the government to examine the delivery of the Warm Homes Plan ensuring that it avoids perpetuating the issues of its predecessor, the ECO scheme.

The Warm Homes Plan, launched this year, aims to tackle high energy bills and fuel poverty across the UK through home energy upgrades such as insulation and heat pumps. The plan is set to invest close to £15 billion, making it the "biggest energy efficiency initiative in British history".

We are calling on the government to ensure that it aims to support, fund, and mandate local authorities to deliver home energy improvements for households across the country. Local councils should be given the tools they need to support the communities they work in.

Claire Harrold, Community Retrofit Director at Repowering London, says: “The next generation of government support must put communities at its heart, combining national ambition with local delivery, so that every household has a fair chance to benefit from warmer, more comfortable homes, lower bills and clean energy.”

Find the full report here

(Left to right) Jeremy Gould of leisure centre operator GLL, joins Ellie Ball (London Borough of Barnet), Henrietta Dale (Repowering London), Sarah Hume (CEB), Councillor Alan Schneiderman (London Borough of Barnet), Colin Fernandes (London Borough of Barnet), Afsheen Kabir Rashid, (Repowering London) and Helen Davies (CEB) present the work of local artist Amelie Williams showcasing the new solar panels at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre

Representatives of Barnet Council, GLL, Community Energy Barnet and Repowering London came together last week to celebrate a landmark achievement. We joined forces to build a solar project on the roof of Burnt Oak Leisure Centre. Now it's up and running, and powering the leisure centre with clean, affordable energy.

CEB Director, Sarah Hume says: "It's an exciting time to be involved in community energy. The project received funding from Greater London Authority through the London Community Energy Fund, showing that London is ready and willing to support locally owned energy. We hope to develop further in the future. This is just the beginning..." 

The panels will generate an estimated 101.2 kWp in electricity, saving the centre £36,000 in bills and reducing the carbon emissions for the area by 241 tonnes over its 20 year project lifetime. The installation is the first for local co-op Community Energy Barnet.

Learn why leisure centres and community energy are a match made in heaven in our latest blog 

(Left to right) Ruth Chiat, Newham Programme Manager at Repowering London; Mete Coban MBE, Uma Kumaran MP, Michael Shanks MP and Afsheen Kabir Rashid, CEO Repowering London, at Stratford Library. Photo: Duncan Law

Michael Shanks MP, Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, visited Stratford Library in July where community-owned solar panels are powering the building with clean, affordable energy. He was joined by Uma Kumaran, MP for Stratford and Bow, and Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban MBE.

As the Government develops its Warm Homes Plan, and Great British Energy's Local Power Plan gears up to invest £1bn+ in at least 1,000 community energy projects by 2030, there is a growing recognition that trusted community organisations have an important role to play in the energy transition. So this was a great opportunity to showcase what can be achieved when local communities, local government and national government work together towards a shared ambition.  

Repowering London’s projects are not just about creating a greener future. They are about giving local people a stake in the energy transition, creating local economic benefits, tackling fuel poverty, and building stronger, more resilient communities.

The visit was an opportunity to keep momentum moving in the right direction, and we will continue to find opportunities to speak up about the ways in which government can create a greener, and fairer, future for communities across the UK. You can count on it.  

Residents explore CEN's first share offer information

The buzz is building behind Community Energy Newham's next share offer. This is your latest chance to invest in local energy that benefits the people and communities they are built in. 

CEN is raising £140,000 to bring the solar panels installed on Godwin Junior School and St Stephen’s Primary School into community ownership. Over their lifetime the panels will cut the borough’s carbon emissions, cut bills and raise money to fund community initiatives. Help CEN start off with a bang by pledging your investment now. You will:  

• Commit to invest in local, clean energy in the borough 
• Make an ethical investment with a target 3% return 
• Bring the schools' energy bills down unlocking vital funds  
• Help choose where to spend surplus income on community initiatives  
• Become a member of CEN and meet new people.

Can you feel the buzz? Now is the time to invest in local energy, to build a cleaner, brighter future in Newham.

 We love this message from a badge maker on the Little Illford Estate

Repowering London held three pop-up events in Little Ilford last month to engage residents with our work in the area. Local people came together to learn about how a heat network could power the community as part of our local clean energy neighbourhood project, Repowered Community Newham.

The stalls had great support from members of the Repowered Community Newham Steering Group, a group of local representatives making decisions for the programme and young volunteers for Community Energy Newham. Badge-making, as always, was a big hit for all ages. 

Little Ilford residents were introduced to heat networks,got visual explainers to take away, and enjoyed interactive activities. The pop-ups were a great way to spread the word that local people taking action together can really make a difference!

We hope you enjoyed reading this update from Repowering London. Please share this newsletter with anyone you feel would also be interested in Creating Local Energy.

Repowering London, 234-244 Stockwell Road, Brixton, London, Greater London SW9 9SP