Local energy club aims to provide cheaper power

The solar panels and battery on the Lonsdale centre were paid for by a £20,000 grant

A voluntary group is setting up an energy club using locally produced renewable energy to cut electricity bills.

Power Hull aims to set up a network of buildings with rooftop solar panels and battery storage, which would distribute power throughout the community.

The first installation, funded by a £20,000 grant, has just been unveiled at the Lonsdale Community Centre in west Hull.

Kevin Paulson from the group said the system would save the centre around £3,000 a year "and that money will go directly into serving the community, such as more items in the food bank".

Work has already started on identifying other buildings in the area that could house the panels and batteries.

The group has received a £34,500 grant from Great British Energy towards setting up the scheme.

They would form a mini network which the group calls PlanGeo, named after the local electricity substation.

Mr Paulson explained that the "energy club model provides a real advantage" as the rate between people exporting power and importing power varies greatly.

"Currently, if you have solar panels on your roof and you export energy to the grid, you get quite a low export tariff," he said.

"Highest at about 15p per unit, but can be as low as 3p a unit."

He said that energy club members get paid a higher rate, "16p,17p a kilowatt hour is common in other places".

The not-for-profit group have been in discussion with local social housing groups, that could see panels installed on homes across the area.

The Power Hull team hopes to build a community electricity network in west Hull

Ellen Clarke said the idea was that "energy generated will stay local".

"One of the huge benefits is all the money stays local as well," she said.

"So it cuts out the profits to the energy company. The Lonsdale and the other energy generators will get more money for selling their energy to the system."

As well as the financial benefits, Lauren Duguid said the system could address the issue of fuel poverty in Hull.

"I think the latest data is one in five households in energy poverty," she said.

"When we're talking to people it's coming up around having to choose between heating and eating.

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