Back in 2008 I built Westmill wind farm in Oxfordshire, UK. It was the first wind farm in the south-east of England, and it was 100% community owned.

To get the project completed involved securing the support of a wide range of people. I spent a huge amount of time building relationships – from securing funding from the MidCounties Co-op group to charming bank managers and reassuring locals, then having firm conversations with the turbine manufacturers and supplying copious bags of Haribo – much-needed fuel for the crane drivers working through the weather window.

People were the key. Whether it was Adam Twine (the incredible landowner), investors, builders, curious schoolchildren, advisors or local councillors; ultimately it was people power that mattered. And it is people power that we must mobilise to reach our 2030 target of decarbonising the grid, and our ultimate goal of net zero by 2050.

Westmill Co-op was a massive success. Each year the 6.5 MW wind farm generates 11 GWh of green electricity, the site has welcomed more than 10,000 visitors and a solar farm has since been built on adjoining land.

When Labour won the general election, like many others in the renewables sector I held my breath. We’d heard about GB Energy and the Local Energy Plan but I wasn’t sure how fast things would move.

So, I was delighted when on day two, the Secretary of State Ed Miliband removed the de facto ban on onshore wind farms. Within a week planning permission for onshore wind turbines in East Riding of Yorkshire and in Cornwall were granted. Collectively we exhaled.

We’re going to need more pylons, for example, a lot more, and if communities feel involved and benefit from the transition then they are far more likely to support, rather than oppose these changes.

Back on track to local power
As far as green investment is concerned, Britain is finally back on track; and harnessing people power, by means of community energy schemes, is going to be essential in our journey. Here’s why.

Firstly, people trust other people, so by using energy projects like Westmill as an example, we can demonstrate that the transition can be done well. Noise won’t keep you up all night, house prices won’t collapse and wind turbines will not kill lots of birds.

Community energy projects will also save you money on energy bills and if you choose to invest, then you'll also receive a share of the profits.

Secondly, community energy projects are a great way to raise money. We must build fast and smart to electrify Britain. GB Energy will help towards this, and will invest into supporting new community energy projects, but there's no way it will cover the full cost.

Not only can community energy projects help to secure funding, but they also bring jobs and investment to the places where they are built, which is often near the coast or in rural communities where investment has been scarce.

Thirdly, the educational, environmental and economic benefits of community energy cannot be ignored. As Emma Bridge, Chief Executive of Community Energy England, says: ‘Community energy projects deliver 12–13 times the community benefit of commercial energy installations, so are uniquely well suited to engage local people to participate in the energy transformation. Labour’s Local Power Plan is a win, win, win for communities, local economies and the country.’

The amount we must accomplish to wean the UK off its fossil fuel dependency can feel overwhelming; dependence in the UK currently stands at over 75%, and globally it’s more like 80%.

Community benefits
We’re going to need more pylons, for example, a lot more. And if communities feel involved and benefit from the transition then they are far more likely to support, rather than oppose these changes. Over five years the Local Power Plan could deliver 8 GW of solar and onshore wind – the equivalent of two-and-a-half nuclear power stations – enough to power over 4 million homes.

Changes around planning and house building will also help. Renters will have greater protection from cold and damp homes, newbuilds will be insulated properly in accordance with the Future Homes Standard, and planning reforms will speed up the time it takes to consent energy projects and grid upgrades. Better buses and railway bills are also looking to improve public transport, again essential for a fair transition and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.

The legislation is promising and the technology has transformed since we built Westmill in 2008. But the only way to truly succeed in the mission to hit net zero by 2050 is through people power, and making sure that the benefits of the renewable revolution are shared and the good news stories are heard.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

• Further reading: ‘Community energy comes first in Labour’s plans for publicly-owned organisations’. According to the new UK Labour government’s Clean Energy Mission document, GB Energy’s first major programme will be to ‘build cheaper, cleaner power in cities, towns and villages across the country’. Community energy is set to have a major role in delivering on this agenda.
• Most people agree that climate change is a problem that we should try to mitigate. But in Britain’s rural and coastal areas, there is often stark opposition to new renewable energy projects. Uniting communities and getting them to support clean energy projects is crucial for meeting net zero targets.