Energy Group

Hexham_22_Jun_08_016-large Transition Towns aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to create robust local sources of energy while reducing energy demand. This responds to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. The Transition Tynedale Energy Group has two goals:

1) To reduce the amount of energy we use.

2) To generate as much as our energy as possible locally using renewable technology.

Our specific objectives for the next 1-2 years are:

Promote energy reduction in Tynedale through promotion of efficiency measures like the Warmzones project.

Use events like the Energy Saving Fair to bring suppliers and the public together.

Investigate and drive forward a community owned medium scale renewable project.

Encourage people, businesses, and organisations to engage with reducing the energy use in their lives, and do what they can now.

Encourage the use of Tynedale’s untapped renewable energy capacity in terms of wind, hydro and other measures.

Energy Group Articles ( 2 Articles )
Energy Group Wind Project ( 1 Article )

Ah, wind turbines. The allegedly controversial issue of the North in the Noughties and beyond.

Well, the consensus amongst the Transition Tynedale Energy Working Group is that:

- we need more local sources of energy generation from renewable sources;

- wind energy is absolutely one of those sources that must be harnessed;

- if there's money to be made as well as 'the planet to be saved' then we would rather that money was going straight to the local community rather than to shareholder-owned businesses that aren't part of our local community.

So, we are actively seeking landowners with whom we can work. We already have one definite and one probable, but we want more.

What we offer - at no charge:

- access to additional sources of funding you might not get on your own, plus help to fill out funding applications

- skills and experience in the energy industry*

- financial and business skills*

- time and enthusiasm

- open approach to working with landowners and communities to get the right local solution

_{* not everyone in the Energy Working Group has all these skills, but we believe we've got a lot to offer between us.}

The catch is... we work on a voluntary basis, in our own time, so if we get inundated with requests, we will work on a broadly first come, first served basis.
Energy Group Hydro Project ( 1 Article )
Hydro energy represents one of Tynedale's best opportunities in terms of generating our own renewable electricity and grabbing the benefits this can bring.

We want to encourage everyone in Tynedale, from big businesses down to individual residents, to take up the hydro opportunities in our valley.

For example, if you have a stream (or something bigger) on your land, consider talking to us about what's possible. Contact Malcolm, who knows something about each of the different technologies for micro-hydro schemes and can provide some basic advice at no cost. We could also potentially provide more support depending on the kind of scheme you might have in mind. We've already got a couple of offers for free training in this area.

Please note that (for the avoidance of any doubt) we are not seeking to make any profit from hydro schemes ourselves. We simply want to help Tynedale move more quickly to harness the opportunities in this area.

To this end, we're also talking with some of the 'big players' with regard to possible schemes on the River Tyne itself. It's on a 'best endeavours' basis at the moment, as there are never enough hours in the day. So if we haven't connected with your organisation yet and you think we should, please do get in touch.

If you're a registered user, click on 'Transition Tynedale Contacts' in the right hand menu.

If you're not a registered user, click on 'Contact Us / Feedback' in the top menu and email the TT General Enquiries team.
Energy Group Energy Efficiency ( 4 Articles )

Improving energy efficiency makes sense in lots of ways. It doesn't just address environmental issues, but often saves you money too. The Transition Tynedale Energy Working Group firmly believes that we need to reduce energy demand as much as we need to generate more energy from local, renewable sources.

Click on the articles below to find out more about our projects in this area.

Contact any of the Energy Working Group members to get involved.

To contact us: If you're not logged in as a registered user, click on 'Contact Us / Feedback' above right, and send a note to the TT General Enquiries email letting us know your interest. If you are logged in as a registered user you can also find our names and numbers in the 'Transition Tynedale Contacts' list, in the right hand menu.
Energy Group Carbon Footprint ( 2 Articles )

The Carbon Footprint Project Group is examining ways for people and communities in Tynedale to work together in cutting their carbon footprint. Our first project has been to invite a speaker from the Greening Campaign to give a talk in Hexham on 4^th March and to promote ideas from that event. We are also preparing energy saving ideas and carbon footprint information for the TT/Greenpeace Energy Saving Fair on 15^th May in Hexham. We welcome new enthusiasts to our group, please contact Magdalena Reid, e-mail (see contacts page, registered users only) tel. 01434-682678.