The role of community-based energy management schemes in supporting resilience

The world’s first energy suppliers were all community-based schemes, in its simplest form a group of people managing a water wheel on a nearby river. The community produced, managed and used its own energy. Eventually, energy production was privatised and today in the UK there are only six large energy suppliers controlling 95% of the market. Energy production and management have become centralised and consumers have become disengaged with the process. This has not only several infrastructure implications but also impacts greatly on people’s behaviour and, consequently, energy use. Localised or distributed energy ownership, common in many European countries but rare in the UK mostly due to existing policy framework, could be of great advantage for society. From a grid perspective, it could lead to a reduction of voltage fluctuations, increased power and improved stability. From a customer perspective, it could help improve energy security, increase power quality, reduce costs and fuel poverty. In addition, from a community perspective, it could give consumer behaviour a role in driving system efficiency and help develop social networks. The definition of community resilience involves change and adaptation in response to key interventions and the management of local capacities. Some of these interventions are easily quantifiable, such as changes to infrastructure, whereas others, like social change, can only be recognised over time. In this work, the authors explored how the resilience of communities (infrastructure and social) can be affected by distributed energy ownership, greater use of renewable energy, better energy efficiency and improved community resilience. The conclusions are focused on suggestions for the development of a case study in a deprived residential neighbourhood in Nottingham. This neighbourhood is currently the focus of a regeneration scheme, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the area and redevelop its reputation.