DTI boost ‘Co-operative Energy’ event

THE Department of Trade and Industry is holding a public seminar next month on the co-operative approach to renewable energy. This is the first time a DTI seminar...

THE Department of Trade and Industry is holding a public seminar next month on the co-operative approach to renewable energy.

This is the first time a DTI seminar has focused on specifically co-operative solutions and recognises the growing significance of the co-operative sector in this field.

The decision by the DTI to hold the ?Co-operative Energy&#039 event at the Royal Society, London, on March 10th, follows a highly successful visit by leading co-operators and energy experts to Denmark and Sweden, to find out more about the important role that renewable energy co-operatives play in these countries.

The DTI seminar will publicise the findings of the mission, which they funded, and which was organised by Co-operativesUK through its New Ventures Panel Sustainability Working Group.

It will examine the lessons that renewable energy co-operatives in the UK can learn from the Scandinavian experience, and will specifically consider the impact of community-owned wind farms in Denmark, biogas production in Sweden and community-owned district heating schemes.

Delegates to this free, one-day event are expected to include leading policy makers from national, regional and local government, as well as specialists in renewable energy and representatives from co-operative development agencies.

Pauline Green, Chief Executive of Co-operativesUK, commented: `The DTI&#039s decision to support the Movement&#039s work in the renewable energy field, through a high-profile seminar such as this, is a great boost.

`In particular, it is rewarding that the seeds being sown by the Co-operativesUK New Ventures Panel ? which is leading the way in identifying the co-operative opportunities of the future ? are once more bearing fruit.

`Renewable energy is a great business fit for co-operatives as it combines sustainability and concern for the environment ? it matches our principles precisely.`

To book a place at the seminar, e-mail [email protected]

In this article


Join the Conversation