Costing the Earth

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Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Fresh ideas from the sharpest minds working toward a cleaner, greener planet

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Costing the Earth: Community Energy

Community Energy

BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, Community Energy

Could community energy be the answer to the gas price crisis? Tom Heap reports.

New ideas about who owns renewable generation could help us tackle rising energy costs. Tom Heap finds that community energy now comes in many different shapes and sizes.

Community energy might conjure up images of off-grid villagers working together to put up solar panels on a remote community hall. This is one model, but Tom Heap finds that there are now many more ways to join the clean energy revolution.

From urban solar rooftop projects which train up young people as fitters to huge wind farms owned by a growing online army of committed enthusiasts, community energy is having a moment.

It seems an incredible but simple idea. If we all own a bit of our energy system then we can decide the price that we pay to keep warm and keep the lights on. So what is standing in the way of more community energy? Tom Heap discovers more about how all of us could get involved with the future of energy.

Producer: Helen Lennard

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