๐ค If you're great at making and maintaining positive connections, then we want to hear from you! Apply to be our Local Authority Liaison ๐ https://cutt.ly/Ayj9kNvi ๐ Deadline for applications is midnight, 10th September.
Low Carbon Hub
@lowcarbonhub.bsky.social
๐ Out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that's good for people and good for the planet. www.lowcarbonhub.org
โ๏ธ A lot of people think we're waiting for an energy 'tipping point', where we have the right tech to power the world with renewables. In reality, we already have all the right technologies and techniques, but we're just not deploying them effectively.
๐ค We all need some positive news sometimes! Here's some stories from the past month ๐
โ๏ธ This summer has been brutal for a lot of people, so it's no surprise that searches for houses with air-con have doubled. But is there a greener, more effective solution that you might not be aware of? Meet the air-to-air heat pump ๐ https://bit.ly/4qcy3WB
We recently took a historical tour around the solar panels generating clean energy and community benefit for the community. Find out more about what secrets it holds ๐ https://bit.ly/3UxW0eV
๐ Our Sandford Hydro plant is now a famous character on the Lasher Weir. It's generating even more clean energy this year thanks to solar panels over the turbines. ๐ It's not just about energy - the pass next to the hydro means that fish can move up the river for the first time in 400 YEARS!
โ๏ธ Millions of us enjoyed watching the eclipse this week... ...but the energy aficionados amongst us might have been worried about what it means for solar generation! Find out more about our own battery plans here ๐ https://bit.ly/4lJrBE0
I call myself an energy transition optimist. 30 years ago renewables were niche and EVs barely existed. Sceptics keep underestimating the pace of change. Globally we're too slow but regionally, the shift is real. Optimism isn't naive. It drives change. janrosenow.substack.com/p/why-im-an-...
Why I'm an energy transition optimist
The case for energy transition optimism has never been stronger.
janrosenow.substack.com
๐๏ธ One (greener and more future-proofed) solution to extreme heat is an air-to-air heat pump. But how much do they cost? And do they really work? We spoke to people who actually have them to find out ๐ https://bit.ly/4qcy3WB
Thinking about getting air conditioning? - Low Carbon Hub
Thinking about air conditioning? An air to air heat pump costs about the same but heats in winter too. Real UK case studies and costs inside.
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๐ค What does โsmart energyโ really mean? And why is it so important that we get it right? ๐ https://tinyurl.com/266b2ykt We'll hear from the Centre for Sustainable Energy's Dr Emilie Crossley on why we believe fairness needs to be at the heart of this fast-moving area of the energy transition.
๐ There's currently not just one, but two opportunities to work with us! We're looking for a talented Local Authority Liaison Officer and a passionate Energy Systems Data Analyst, to help us on our mission to create a fair, sustainable energy future. ๐https://tinyurl.com/2clt6rdn
Obviously we're a bit biased... but community energy might be more important than ever ๐ With more communities living at the edge of large-scale renewables projects, it's crucial that people feel the benefits of them directly.
๐ซ Yesterday we hosted some of our wonderful community groups, who found out more about the new Homewise tool. Developed by the @energysavingtrust.bsky.social and available via @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social's website, Homewise offers energy saving advice tailored to user's home, lifestyle, and budget.
Join us and the Centre for Sustainable Energy for an introductory session exploring what โsmart energyโ really means, how smart tariffs work, and why we believe fairness needs to be at the heart of this fast-moving area of the energy transition ๐ https://tinyurl.com/266b2ykt
We're hiring an Energy Systems Data Analyst ๐ https://tinyurl.com/22728vst# We're looking for someone who will play a pivotal role in shaping how data drives community-led net zero energy planning. ๐ป Apply via our website.
๐School's (finally) out for summer! But our solar panels will still be working hard on classroom roofs ๐ https://tinyurl.com/2bmhfot6 In 2025/26 our arrays have saved 249 tonnes of COโ emissions. That's equivalent to: ๐ก Powering 450 UK homes for the year ๐ Taking 154 cars off the road for a year
๐ Curtailment of renewables sites sounds like a negative - and clean energy being wasted certainly is. But can the peaks and troughs in our energy system actually be made a positive for community energy groups thanks to batteries? Find out more about battery storage ๐ https://bit.ly/4vE0wWd
Battery Storage and Renewables Webinar
As more solar and wind projects come online across the UK, one chal...
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For homeowners or renters who aren't sure where to start on your energy efficiency journey, you can try out the new Homewise tool from Energy Saving Trust for free through Oxfordshire County Council here ๐ https://tinyurl.com/29hyghye
๐Plug-in solar is coming to the UK, but what might it mean for households? Find out more ๐ https://tinyurl.com/2yygbdcl
What if the World Cup semi finals were decided by renewable energy generation stats ๐ค We took a look at the energy mix of the last four ๐
๐ธ We've now pledged over ยฃ126,000 towards energy efficiency measures, helping SMEs across the county save money on their bills, decarbonise their premises and protect users against extreme heat and cold. ๐ tinyurl.com/26hvfhna
๐ All energy infrastructure has an environmental impact, but when appropriately managed, renewable sites can incorporate biodiversity improvements and land-sharing practices incredibly well. ๐ https://bit.ly/3Ssq5eT
๐ A huge THANK YOU to all 368 investors who've helped us to reach a whopping ยฃ970k in our latest share raise. Our new battery storage project will be the first of its kind in the UK, powering up our already successful Ray Valley Solar Park even further ๐ https://bit.ly/4lJrBE0
โฐ There's just one day (yes, one day!) left to invest in our latest project on the Ethex platform. Every penny we raise reduces our reliance on loans, and means that more of our battery storage system is community owned. Get involved ๐ bit.ly/4lJrBE0
If we want to avoid more frequent heatwaves in the future, then renewable energy has a big role to play ๐ CO2 emissions are the primary driver of climate change, responsible for 75% to 80% of total human-caused warming, so decarbonising our energy system is crucial to mitigating extreme heat.
๐ก๏ธ We're set for some unprecedented hot weather this week, so make sure to refresh your memory on how to keep yourself and you loved ones cool. Our Beat The Heat advice is a good place to start ๐ https://bit.ly/4vXK0AT
๐ Yesterday we opened the gates of our Ray Valley Solar Park to some of the people who made the project possible. A few of our wonderful community energy investors had the chance to enjoy a VIP tour of the park, alongside some technical explainers and historical secrets.
We can't believe it, but there's now only two weeks left to invest in our exciting new battery storage system project on Ethex ๐ https://bit.ly/4lJrBE0 If you can, please do consider being part of it. ๐
๐ฐ Oxfordshire County Council has launched a public consultation on a new policy for community benefit contributions and shared ownership of clean energy projects. Weโre asking everyone in our network to take part, to make sure as many viewpoints as possible are represented ๐ https://bit.ly/4uuVI4S
Locally-produced food and materials are crucial to combating the effects of climate change. ๐ From grazing livestock under panels to encouraging pollinators back to the area, there's actually a huge amount of opportunities to explore in the 'agrivoltaics' sector ๐ https://bit.ly/3Ssq5eT