Recommendation 22

Community energy projects are very popular and can be used to demonstrate the value of a new project in a different community. They have the potential to demonstrate the value of renewables and can deliver cheaper electricity. A stronger alignment between the 8 GW target and the Department’s various objectives would also enable a more holistic approach to energy system transformation and governance. Since community energy is not just about generation, community-led smart and local energy systems, low carbon heat, retrofit, and initiatives seeking to address fuel poverty can all contribute to the Department’s wider objectives to cut energy bills and strengthen energy security. Stronger articulations of interlinkages between the Local Power Plan, the Warm Homes Plan and the Clean Flexibility Roadmap could help clarify trade-offs and synergies in these multi-actor interventions and outline potentials for cross-sectorial approaches. (Conclusion, Paragraph 86)