St Albans
We began the project by mapping stakeholders to understand existing community energy activity and identifypotential partners in St Albans. While there were no active community energy projects in the district, there had been historic interest, and activity elsewhere in Hertfordshire remained limited, with Grand Union Community Energy (GUCE) the only group delivering projects in the county.
An initial workshop with St Albans City & District Council (SADC) officers in May created a constructive space to explore the challenges of decarbonising the Council’s wider estate and to build shared understanding of how community energy could play a future role. While early conversations were exploratory, they helped establish a foundation for continued engagement.
To broaden participation, we co-hosted a public webinar with SADC in June, introducing community energy to local residents and community groups. The session set out the national and regional context and featured a practical case study from GUCE, demonstrating how community energy operated in a Hertfordshire setting. This led to several follow-up conversations with interested residents.
The project concluded with two positive green shoots. A meeting with eight local people, including two councillors, identified emerging local leadership, with individuals stepping forward to convene further meetings and grow local interest. In addition, the Hertfordshire Community Energy Conference, organised by GUCE and Green Heat Co-op, provided inspiration and reassurance to both officers and members, helping to build confidence that community energy could form part of St Albans’ net zero journey.
“Community Energy Pathways played a pivotal role in helping our Council better understand the potential of community energy. They have a wealth of expertise and their warm, engaging delivery made it easy for both Council and community members to get involved. Community Energy Pathways support was instrumental in engaging local residents and building momentum. Thanks to their guidance, we’ve seen the community come together with enthusiasm and purpose around the idea of forming a community energy group. We’re grateful for their dedication and the positive impact they’ve had on our journey.”
Client Testimonial