EMPower

This project aims to help communities have a greater say in how their electricity is generated and managed, and to reward energy customers financially through savings on their electricity bills. A feasibility study in the TSB Buildings Better Connected programme demonstrated through simulation that communities with electricity micro-generation and storage capability could have a lower carbon footprint and see a better return on investment through co-operative energy management than they would have without storage capability, based on the same total consumption. This project will design and implement a prototype to validate and market test the concept. The project is innovative because it optimises energy generation and usage at the community level rather than building level. The approach is very scalable. The project team is e2E Services to develop the technical solution; Encraft for commercial design and energy market expertise; University of Nottingham for energy assessment tools and techniques; and Bath and West Community Energy in the role of launch customer with a track record of delivering innovative solutions into the community energy market.