Participants sought for new energy activator pilot
Last modified: 12 Jul 2024 5:14pm
Anyone interest in developing a community energy project can find out more about a new activator programme at an information evening tonight, with two information evenings coming up on the 16 July at Tūranga Library and Rolleston Community Centre on 17 July.
Community energy projects focus on how people and communities can have democratic control over their energy future, through understanding, generating, using, owning, sharing and saving energy in their communities and how they can work together across regions and nationally.
Orion, Ara Ake and Community Energy Network are offering a 13-week immersive programme helping people to explore community energy models and develop their ideas and plans.
The pilot programme will be guided by industry professionals and include a mix of online and in-person learning as well as site visits to local community energy projects.
The programme aims to enable teams to explore community energy models and develop their ideas and plans while building invaluable networks and learning alongside the Activator organisers. The Activator will culminate in an event where the teams will present their projects to a group of energy experts and other stakeholders.
“By bringing together a cohort of local communities with national mentors, experts, and community energy innovators, the Activator will take them on a journey to explore their local context and community aspirations, learn about the opportunities offered by different community energy models, and understand what it takes to bring these to life,” Orion General Manager Energy Futures Sam Elder says.
Community Energy Network Executive Officer Gareth Cartwright says the hope is that more than one of the projects developed in the programme will access the funding and expertise needed to be realised.
The pilot programme will be guided by industry professionals and include a mix of online and in-person learning as well as site visits to local community energy projects.
Participants will be expected to commit four to six hours per week to the programme throughout the 13 weeks.
Expressions of interest are welcome until 31 July at www.energyhub.org.nz/community-energy-activator-pilot