A housing association is aiming to generate its own renewable energy to slash heating and electricity bills for tenants.
Cartrefi Conwy has teamed up with Bangor University to address fuel poverty issues and the rising cost of energy for tenants.
The ground-breaking project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Welsh Government’s Technology Strategy Board.
As a result, Bangor University’s Dr Liz Shepherd has started a two-year study aimed at setting up an Energy Services Company (ESCo) which could deliver heat and power to tenants through low carbon means.
Ideas being investigated include small scale, community-based wind turbines and heat pumps which would use green technology to take heat out of the air, ground and water.
Hydro power is a possibility in some communities living near to streams and rivers in the Conwy Valley.
Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive, Andrew Bowden is delighted the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Bangor University is now in place.
Mr Bowden said: “I know Dr Shepherd and her colleagues will leave no stone unturned when it comes to researching how we can best generate, and deliver, cheaper energy to our tenants.”
He added: “Our vision is to create communities to be proud of and I believe by producing our own energy in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way making it more affordable for tenants has to be a worthwhile aim.
“Of course, with more than 3,700 properties throughout Conwy, our communities are all different. What suits those living on housing estates near the coast might not work for tenants living as part of smaller, more remote, communities elsewhere in the county.
“That’s why it’s important we consult with tenants at every stage and make sure the right approach, and plan, is put in place to suit each individual community.
“I’m very excited about this whole project however, and eager to see what innovative ideas are developed that will benefit out tenants in the long-term.”
Dr Shepherd says her “cutting edge” research will look at how communities can benefit and become more engaged with their energy supply.
She said: “We are looking at how we can achieve energy efficiency in all Cartrefi Conwy properties.
“And also how we can generate heat and power locally in a way that will help the environment, make it cheaper for tenants and make the supply more secure and less reliant on energy imported from a foreign source.
“We are looking at how we can generate electricity and heat locally through renewable means, near to the communities that need it.
“When we generate electricity we also generate heat, almost as a by-product, but currently, and because of the distances involved, that heat is simply lost or discarded. That’s why we have cooling towers, for example, at power stations.
“But by producing electricity locally we can pipe the heat, through a district heat network, into the homes of tenants. This is heat that would otherwise be lost. This could be a really cheap and sustainable way to provide tenants with some of their energy needs.”
But Dr Shepherd says generating energy locally wouldn’t mean major local building projects.
She said: “We will be looking at several ways we can generate energy including solar panels, small scale wind turbines and possibly heat pumps which would use new technology to take heat out of the air, ground and water.
“And some communities living higher up in the Conwy Valley may have access to hydro technology too. We could possibly use the flow of streams and rivers to generate energy.”
She added: “But we are certainly not going to be looking at building a wind farm in the middle of a community for example. And any building we did need should not be bigger than a normal car garage.
“What is important is that communities are consulted. It will be a case of taking our plans to tenants and explaining the possible options. But just as importantly, we would be seeking their views taking into account their local knowledge, individual needs and preferences.”
Dr Einir Young, Bangor University’s Head of Sustainable Development, says it is vital Cartrefi Conwy addresses fuel poverty and the rising cost of energy in an increasingly volatile energy market.
She said “There are two issues here – one is fuel poverty and escalating bills, the other working together to ensure a resilient supply in times where there’s a lot of discussion around whether we are generating enough electricity to meet demand; whether the lights will go out or not.
“One immediate way for individuals to take control is to find ways not to waste energy. This project is all about community engagement and working with tenants to address the issue of improving energy efficiency as well as generating cheap, sustainable green energy locally.”
Cartrefi Conwy’s Asset and Sustainability Manager, Adrian Johnson, is also excited about the project.
He said: “It’s all about community engagement and we will be taking our thoughts and plans to our tenants to get their views as time goes on.
“However, anything we can do to tackle fuel poverty and reduce energy costs for our tenants is worth pursuing.
“There is a great deal of new technology out there and if we can harness that and see if we can make some of it work to help our communities and tenants then it’s only right we do so.”
