Community Energy grabs international attention
A film crew from South Korea selected Plymouth Energy Community to appear in a documentary which will air to an anticipated 2 million people in South Korea in early January.
Last week Plymouth Energy Community and Plymouth City Council were delighted to welcome the visitors from South Korea who wanted to know more about Plymouth’s energy co-operative.
Since it was set up a year ago the outstanding achievements of the 700 member co-operative, known as PEC, have already gained significant support.
Now thanks to PEC’s outstanding achievements and the support of Plymouth City Council, Plymouth is being put in the international spotlight.
Plymouth Council’s Cabinet Member for Cooperatives, Housing and Community Safety, and a found member for PEC, Cllr Chris Penberthy said
“I am really proud of everyone who has been involved in Plymouth’s Energy Community, we have already helped thousands of residents through services such as the bespoke switching service, our fuel debt advice service, installation programmes and by helping local people invest in solar PV for the community.
It is fantastic that these efforts have been recognised further afield and demonstrates that Plymouth is at the very forefront of community energy development.”
The film crew from South Korea accompanied by Ji Seok Kim, Senior Climate Change and Energy Office from the British Embassy Seoul, arrived in Plymouth last week to interview PEC’s CEO, Alistair Macpherson about the energy Co-operative.
“We are more than happy to pass on our knowledge and experience, the more community energy becomes mainstream the more chance we have of tackling the major issues facing our global energy usage. It’s encouraging to know that news of Plymouth’s achievements are spreading this far!” says Alistair, “The crew were particularly interested in how we have managed to put free solar PV on 21 of our schools and community buildings through our first community share offer.”
During their visit they also learnt how the energy co-operative has developed, its unique partnership with the local authority and about all of PEC’s services including a new volunteer scheme and home energy makeover service that will launch later this month.
A second community share offer is also on the horizon and PEC is set to be the first community energy group in the country to become an energy supplier and provide bespoke tariffs for the local community.
It’s no wonder people far and wide want to know how.
