by tresoc | Mar 28, 2026 | Latest TRESOC News, News
Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) has celebrated a remarkable double triumph at the prestigious Regen Green Energy Awards 2026, held on Thursday 26th March at the Bristol Harbour Hotel.
The society took home the Community Energy Initiative Award for its ground-breaking Energy Local Totnes project, while TRESOC’s Managing Director, Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, was jointly awarded the Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award in recognition of her outstanding personal contribution to the development of a net zero energy system.
The Regen Green Energy Awards
Now in their twentieth year, the Regen Green Energy Awards are a leading national celebration of the innovative technologies, pioneering companies and inspiring individuals shaking up the energy system and driving the UK towards a net zero future. The awards bring together the full spectrum of the clean energy sector – from policymakers and network operators to investors, developers and community organisations – and are widely regarded as the highlight of the UK’s clean energy calendar.
Community Energy Initiative Award
The Community Energy Initiative Award – sponsored by National Grid – recognises the role of inspiring community energy organisations across the UK, working to deliver a net zero energy system in a just way. TRESOC received the award for its Energy Local Totnes project.
Energy Local Totnes is a community energy club set up by TRESOC in partnership with Energy Local CIC, the UK-wide initiative founded by Dr Mary Gillie. The club allows households and small businesses within the Totnes electricity substation area to source their power from locally generated renewable energy, currently anchored by the 330kW hydroelectric plant at Totnes Weir. Members benefit from significantly reduced electricity bills – with some saving up to 30% – while local renewable generators receive a fairer price for the power they produce. Energy Local Totnes is the first scalable Energy Local club, allowing additional generators to feed into the club, expanding capacity and membership numbers.
TRESOC and Energy Local CIC are now working to replicate the club in communities across South Devon, demonstrating that local energy markets can deliver real carbon savings, tackle fuel poverty and build community resilience.
Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award – A Historic Joint Win
The Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award recognises the achievements of inspiring individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference in the development of a net zero energy system. In an unprecedented move, this year the award was presented jointly to two recipients: Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, Managing Director of TRESOC and founder director of Energy Local Totnes, and Dr Mary Gillie, the founder of Energy Local CIC.
“I’m thoroughly delighted – both that Energy Local Totnes has been recognised, and that I get to share the Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award with Mary Gillie, whose work made all of this possible. There was stiff competition, and I feel genuinely honoured,” said Sally Murrall-Smith. “But this really shows what communities can achieve when they come together, so a huge amount of credit must go to the TRESOC team and members, Energy Local CIC, and the progressive councillors and government bodies who believed in us.”
Dr Murrall-Smith has been instrumental in shaping and delivering the Energy Local Totnes project from concept to reality, navigating complex technical, regulatory and financial challenges to create a working local energy market that is already benefiting the Totnes community. Dr Gillie, whose vision and determination created the Energy Local model, has established a network of community energy clubs across England and Wales and championed local energy markets at the highest levels of policy debate.
by tresoc | Mar 11, 2026 | Latest TRESOC News, News
TRESOC recognised for pioneering local energy club and inspirational leadership.
The Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) has been shortlisted for two awards at the leading national celebration of innovative technologies, pioneering companies and inspiring individuals shaking up the energy system – the Regen Green Energy Awards 2026.
Formed by a group of local residents in 2007, TRESOC has been shortlisted in the Community Energy Initiative category for its ground-breaking Energy Local Totnes (ELT) project. In addition, TRESOC’s Managing Director, Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, has received an individual nomination in the Net Zero Energy Pioneer category.
Energy Local Totnes is a community-led club that enables local households and businesses to source their energy from locally generated solar and hydro. By matching local energy demand to local generation, the club offers participants the chance to pay less for power, while helping to build a resilient, environmentally-conscious energy network that benefits their pocket, their community and the planet.
Since going live, ELT members are already saving up to 30% on their electricity bills, when compared to the national average price of 25p/kWh. In 17 months of operation, 72% of club demand has been met by local renewables, with an average price paid by members of 17.9p/kWh (exc. VAT). In total, members have saved a total of £19,960, and £35,846 has been paid to local generators, keeping that money in the local community.
As the first Energy Local club to partner with 100Green, ELT is breaking new ground. Its innovative approach allows multiple local generators and even small businesses to participate, creating a more inclusive and sustainable energy model. The project has increasingly been cited as a national model for community-owned energy, and was featured on BBC One’s The One Show, in a short film exploring how the community energy club is benefitting members’ pockets, the local community, and the planet.
Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, Managing Director of TRESOC and founder director of Energy Local Totnes, said:
“To be shortlisted for two awards at the Regen Green Energy Awards is genuinely humbling. Energy Local Totnes exists because of the hard work of so many people – our members, our partners, and the community of Totnes that has believed in this from the start. Being recognised on a national stage, competing alongside some of the biggest names in clean energy, is a real statement that community-powered energy is not just a nice idea – it works, it saves people money, and it keeps wealth in local hands. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.”
The double nomination is particularly significant for a society rooted in the values of democratic community ownership, local economic resilience, and renewable energy development. TRESOC has also recently been awarded funding from Great British Energy to develop a 100kW community-owned solar installation at Dart Marine Park in partnership with South Hams District Council, with surplus energy to be sold directly into Energy Local Totnes – further expanding the club’s reach and impact.
The 2026 Green Energy Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 26th March at the Bristol Harbour Hotel, Bristol.
by tresoc | Oct 28, 2025 | Latest TRESOC News
We’re pleased to announce that TRESOC has been awarded a £50,000 grant from the Community Energy Fund to develop 100kW of community-owned roof-mounted solar PV at Dart Marine Park, Steamers Quay, marking our first new community solar installation since the end of the feed-in tariff scheme.
The project, developed in partnership with South Hams District Council who owns the site, will enable local residents to invest directly in renewable energy through a community share offer planned for Spring 2026. Shareholders will receive interest payments, ensuring profits support the local economy while delivering affordable clean energy to the area.
Electricity generated from the solar installation will be sold at discounted rates to tenants at Dart Marine Park, with surplus energy supplied to Energy Local Totnes, the local energy club for buying and selling locally generated renewable electricity at a fair price, reducing members’ energy bills, and paying small local generators more for their energy. The club, which celebrated its first anniversary this month, has already demonstrated significant impact, saving members an average of 28.5% on energy bills and retaining £12,011 within the local economy.
Cllr John Birch, the South Hams District Council’s Executive Member responsible for Economic Development says, “SHDC welcomed the opportunity of working with TRESOC on the forward-thinking Community Energy Project at Steamer Quay in Totnes. TRESOC’s aspirations in respect of renewable energy align with those of SHDC and, by working together, residents and businesses will have the opportunity to benefit from lower energy bills.”
Sally Murrall-Smith, Managing Director of TRESOC, said: “This is a significant milestone for community energy in Totnes. Since the government’s feed-in tariff ended, low electricity prices have made it impossible for us to develop new community solar projects. Energy Local Totnes has changed that by offering local generators a fairer price, which makes projects like Dart Marine Park financially viable. We’re thrilled to be partnering with South Hams District Council on this initiative, and we hope this is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration as we work together to create a fairer, greener energy system for our community.”
The £50,000 grant will fund legal and technical work with the council, as well as the administration and delivery of the community share offer, making renewable energy investment accessible to local residents.
by tresoc | Sep 26, 2025 | Events, Latest TRESOC News, Membership, News
Members and Friends, please Join us on November 11th at Totnes United Free Church, 56 Fore St, Totnes, TQ9 5RU for an evening of reflection, planning, and community. Doors open at 6.30pm with proceedings beginning promptly at 7pm. As always, we’ll have tea, mince pies, and plenty of engaging discussion waiting for you.
This is your opportunity to learn about what we’ve accomplished together over the past year and to help shape our vision for what’s coming next. Your questions, insights, and involvement are what drive TRESOC forward, and we’re eager to hear from you as we plan our strategy for the year ahead.
For our meeting to proceed, we need at least 55 members present to achieve quorum – and honestly, we’d be delighted to see every single one of you there! This evening is all about ensuring our work continues to reflect your values and serves your interests effectively.
Can’t make it in person? No problem – but please don’t let your voice go unheard! We encourage all members who cannot attend to please complete the online Proxy Voting Form. Given that TRESOC requires a 10% member vote under our rules, each and every vote truly matters.
Alternatively, use the Proxy Voting Form link below to print a copy you can complete by hand. Simply print it, add your signature, and return it to us at TRESOC, 107 High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5SN, or scan and email it to admin@tresoc.co.uk.
Planning to attend? Wonderful! Just drop us a line at admin@tresoc.co.uk to register.
Keep an eye out for the Directors’ Report and our latest Accounts summary, which we’ll be distributing to all members ahead of the meeting. You’ll also find links to these documents below.
We look forward to seeing you there!
by tresoc | Jun 26, 2025 | Events, Latest Blog Post, News
Join us at a talk at The Mansion on Wed July 9th at 7pm, at which Dr Sally Murrall-Smith explores how local community energy can benefit your pocket, your community and your planet, and how TRESOC is helping to guide Totnes into a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
Sally will also be discussing the origins of the TRESOC initiative, Energy Local Totnes, its performance to date, and what’s next for the pioneering local energy club – as featured on The One Show, available to view at www.tresoc.co.uk/elt.
So if you live in or around Totnes, and you’re keen to learn how we can all make the most of the valuable resources on our doorstep, this is the event for you – as it is if you live outside of Totnes and want to set up your own Energy Local club in your area.
There are only 20 places available for this talk, with tickets available at: https://bit.ly/tresoc-talk
Community Energy in Totnes: Wed July 9th, 7pm, at The Mansion, 36 Fore Street, Totnes, TQ9 5RP. Totnes Weir Hydro – photo © 2025 Dart3D.
by tresoc | Jun 5, 2025 | News
On Tuesday 3rd June, Energy Local Totnes was featured on The One Show on BBC 1, in a short film exploring our local energy club’s benefits to pocket, community and planet. The feature captures the essence of what Energy Local Totnes is doing and how our pioneering members are all part of something truly ground-breaking.
Watch now at: https://www.tresoc.co.uk/elt
Back in early March, presenter Lucy Siegle and the crew spent the day with us, filming at the Totnes Weir hydro and in the homes of some of our members, as you’ll see in the film.
The day culminated at The Royal Seven Stars Hotel, where a large group of enthusiastic members gathered, each being interviewed by Lucy, who grew up in Totnes. Unfortunately, those latter interviews didn’t make it into the final edit, but we’re extremely grateful to all the loyal club members who were able to offer their support throughout the day – it’s a prime example of a community really coming together for the common good.
From the cutting room floor: Energy Local Totnes members at the Royal Seven Stars Hotel, ready for their close-ups!
More from the cutting room floor: Lucy Siegle prepares to interview Energy Local Totnes Energy Advisor, Jem Friar
Receiving national coverage for our community energy club is extremely valuable as we seek to encourage new members to join. Energy Local Totnes currently has 48 members, and our goal is to sign up a total of 200 founding members by November this year. This short film is an excellent introduction to Energy Local Totnes, and we would appreciate it if you could share the link with your family, friends and neighbours, to demonstrate that with their help we can actively participate in reshaping Britain’s energy future toward one that’s more equitable, sustainable, and community-controlled.
Learn more about Energy Local Totnes or register your interest in joining.
by tresoc | Jan 16, 2025 | Events
On the evening of January 10th, 2025, Energy Local Totnes (ELT) marked a significant milestone: its first Annual General Meeting. Held at The Mansion, this event brought together members, directors, and supporters to celebrate achievements, reflect on challenges, and chart the course for an even brighter future.
A Dream Realised
Sally Murrall-Smith, founder director of ELT and Managing Director of TRESOC, opened the meeting with a warm welcome. She shared her excitement about how far ELT has come since its inception. “Providing locally generated renewable electricity to local people” is not just an idea anymore – it’s a reality that is saving members money, reducing carbon footprints, and reinvesting in the local economy.
As the 10th Energy Local club – and the first to partner with 100Green – ELT is breaking new ground. Its innovative approach allows multiple local generators and even small businesses to participate, creating a more inclusive and sustainable energy model.
Looking Back: A Year of Progress
While ELT officially registered as a cooperative in June 2023, its journey to full operation wasn’t without hurdles. An initial generator withdrawal and technical issues delayed the start, but by October 2024, local hydro power from Totnes Weir Hydro began supplying the club. Despite the learning curve, ELT is already making an impact:
- 99.9% Local Hydro Usage: In December, members used almost entirely local hydroelectricity (charged at 15p per kWh), keeping costs low and carbon emissions minimal.
- Significant Savings: Members are already saving up to 30% on electricity bills.
Ambitious Plans for 2025
The future of ELT is as inspiring as its beginnings. Key goals for the year include:
- Growing Membership: Signing up 200 households and 400kW of renewable energy generators.
- Maximising Savings: Helping members reduce energy bills by 10-30% while cutting carbon emissions by 30%.
- Education and Engagement: Hosting workshops to teach members how to optimise energy use and developing renewable energy education programs for children.
- Expanding the Model: Establishing two new Energy Local clubs in Moretonhampstead and Ashburton, training new advisors, and promoting opportunities for low-income households.
These ambitions reflect ELT’s commitment to creating a fairer, greener energy system that benefits everyone.
Why Join Energy Local Totnes?
For Totnes residents not yet part of ELT, the benefits are clear:
- Save Money: Access cheaper, locally generated renewable electricity.
- Support Sustainability: Reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future.
- Strengthen the Local Economy: Keep money within the community by supporting local renewable energy projects.
Be Part of the Change
As Sally aptly put it during the AGM, ELT’s success in Totnes could catalyse systemic change, proving that communities can take control of their energy and build a more equitable system. Why not be part of this transformative journey?
Visit our Energy Local Totnes page to learn more and sign up today. Together, we can create a cleaner, fairer energy future for Totnes and beyond.
by tresoc | Oct 8, 2024 | Latest TRESOC News
Dear TRESOC Members and Friends,
We invite you to hear about our work over the last year and to celebrate the opportunities ahead at our upcoming Annual General Meeting.
Please join us for a cup of tea, a mince pie and some sparkling conversation on November 5th at Totnes United Free Church, 56 Fore St, Totnes, TQ9 5RU. We look forward to welcoming members, friends and the public from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
We encourage you to come along to ask questions and help us develop our strategy for the year ahead. We need 55 members to be quorate and we’d like to see all of you! Our aim is that you are aligned with, and endorse, the efforts we are making on your behalf.
If you are a member and unable to attend the AGM, we kindly ask that you arrange a Proxy Vote to ensure your voice is heard. As TRESOC rules require a 10% member vote, every vote is essential. A link to the Proxy Voting Form can be found below.
Please download, sign, and submit the Proxy Voting Form either by posting it or dropping it through the door at TRESOC, 107 High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5SN, or by emailing a scanned copy to admin@tresoc.co.uk.
To attend, please register by emailing us at admin@tresoc.co.uk. You will receive a link to join the meeting upon registration.
The Directors’ Report and a summary of our latest Accounts will be sent out to members prior to the AGM, links to which can also be found below.
by tresoc | Sep 25, 2024 | News
Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) support the new onshore wind turbine development at Bigbury, linked to an Octopus Energy fan club.
TRESOC believe that more onshore wind should be developed in the South Hams and welcomes any model that encourages this. The development of local wind resources is a way for communities to become more energy dependant and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Ideally, these wind resources would be 100% community owned, however, few communities have the financial resources, skills and risk appetite needed to develop a turbine. To make small projects economically viable they need to be linked to some type of local supply model such as an Energy Local Club, which we are developing in Totnes, or an Octopus Energy Fan Club.
More clean and green renewable energy on the system in this area can only be a good thing and we hope the project is successfully developed.
The TRESOC Board
Learn more from Bigbury Net Zero’s project booklet
by tresoc | Mar 20, 2024 | Latest TRESOC News
TRESOC had an excellent time last week with Year 5s and 6s from Harbertonford Primary School. On Monday we spent the day visiting local renewable energy sites, including Marley Wind Turbine, Dartington Solar Farm, Dartington Wood Chip Boiler and Totnes Weir Hydro. The next day we returned to the classroom to explore the science behind these technologies, through a series of interactive workshops. The students were really engaged and asked some fantastic questions that got everybody thinking!
Many thanks to Harbertonford Primary for taking part in our REEL (Renewable Energy Experiential Learning) programme, funded by the Energy Redress Scheme Grant for the Energy Local Totnes Project. Energy Local Totnes is a club for buying and selling locally generated renewable electricity at a fair price, saving local people money off their bills and paying local generators a better price. For more information: https://energylocal.org.uk/totnes
by tresoc | Dec 4, 2023 | Latest TRESOC News, News
It was great to see those of you who made it to this year’s AGM on 13th November! Click the link below to see the draft minutes from the meeting…
by tresoc | Mar 27, 2023 | Latest TRESOC News
In this video, we discuss the Clay Park project by Transition Homes Community Land Trust and TRESOC. Our project aimed to showcase a new business model where a community energy company and a local housing developer could generate low-cost green electricity for affordable housing. The Rural Community Energy Fund awarded us grants to investigate and develop the project.
However, due to economic challenges such as the increased cost of materials after the pandemic and the energy crisis created by the war in Ukraine, the financial model for the project needed to be reworked. Transition Homes Community Land Trust partnered with Aster Housing Group. This has helped ensure the housing development can provide 100% affordable housing, but with a shift in how energy for the homes will be sourced, has meant there is no business case for a microgrid or TRESOC’s continued involvement.
TRESOC is extremely grateful to the Rural Community Energy Fund for its support. We continue to develop the microgrid model through our Energy Local Totnes project and hope to inspire other community energy groups to plan their own microgrids.
