The conference was organised to facilitate the development of community scale sustainable energy projects in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.

Examples of community projects could be:

• Sustainable energy upgrades of community buildings
• Collaborative projects including households working together
• Commercial scale renewable energy projects with local shareholding and community financial benefits
• Community/ local authority partnerships to deliver the above

The morning was devoted to examples of community projects in Dorset and from further afield, including Totnes Transition Streets, which recently secured £625,000 from the Low Carbon Communities Challenge Fund, and OVESCo, a community based Energy Services Company that developed out of Transition Town Lewes. The afternoon covered sources of help for community projects and financial mechanisms to allow community shareholding.

It was agreed at the Conference to set up a web-based Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Community Sustainable Energy Network in order to share information. The network will be co-ordinated by da21, subject to securing funding. A working group was set up to develop the proposal.

1. Programme (pdf, 20kb) (opens in a new window)
2. Background and implementation of existing strategies - Kate Hall (pdf, 629kb) (opens in a new window)  
3. Micro hydro in Dorset - Keith Wheaton Green (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)
4. Lessons learned from the Sherborne Community Wind Turbine Project- Mike Keatinge (pdf, 23kb) (opens in a new window)
5. Ouse Valley Energy Services Company (OVESCo) – Chris Rowland (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)
6. Totnes Transition Streets - Chris Bird (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)
7. Dorset Agenda 21 (da21) - Paul McIntosh (pdf, 324kb) (opens in a new window)
8. RegenSW Communities for Renewables - Hazel Williams (pdf, 360kb) (opens in a new window)
9. Feed-in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive - Pete West (pdf, 425kb) (opens in a new window)
10. Wessex Community Assets – legal structures – Tim Crabtree (pdf, 589kb) (opens in a new window)
11. Ecos Trust- Changing Landscapes – Charles Couzens (pdf, 935kb) (opens in a new window)
12. Next steps and keeping in touch – Paul McIntosh and Pete West (pdf, 855kb) (opens in a new window)
13. Dorset Energy Advice Centre - Theresa Mc Manus (pdf, 91kb) (opens in a new window)