Community Energy in Totnes – A Talk

by | 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.

Energy Local Totnes Featured on The One Show

by | 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!

Lucy Siegle interviews Energy Local Totnes Energy Advisor, Jem Friar

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.

TRESOC Supports Bigbury Wind Turbine Proposal

by | 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

 

 

Energy Local Totnes Launch

by | Mar 16, 2023 | Latest TRESOC News, News

On the 24th March TRESOC will proudly launch the South West’s first Smart Local Energy System, Energy Local Totnes (ELT), a new economic driver for the development of local renewable energy.

Energy Local CIC has been setting up clubs around the country that help create local markets for power. They designed technology that uses smart meter data to allow households to club together to show they are using local, clean power when it is generated. The households then agree a price with local generators that’s better for the generators as well as reducing their own bills. For more information on how Energy Local clubs work click here.

Green Energy (GE) UK are acting as the partner energy supplier who will ensure there is enough power for the households in the club when there is not enough local electricity generated.

Totnes Town Council have officially signed a GE UK contract to supply the excess from the 15kW solar PV array on the Civic Hall, into the club. GE UK are now doing the technical work that it takes to become their energy supply company. 35 people have already registered an interest in becoming part of the club, and these will be the first customers. GE UK will start to sign these customers over at the beginning of April.

The number of customers in the club needs to balance the amount of generation. Jem Friar, the Totnes Energy Local advisor will be responsible for this matching. To start with, we will be able to sign up 10-15 people, to use the power from the Civic. Soon after the club is in operation, Harrison’s Garage intend to join the club, as they have installed a new 30kW system on the roof of their garage. This should mean roughly another 15-20 people can join, depending on the modelling. As more generation joins the club, balanced by more customers, the club can grow. This is real innovation at work. It will be the first Energy Local Club in the country to be able to grow in this way.

Energy Local Totnes will be its own co-operative, and totally independent of TRESOC, although TRESOC will be a generator member. It will have its own board, made up of generator and consumer members, who will annually set the match price for the club. The match price is the price that the generator and consumer gets, when a consumer matches their energy demand to local generation.

This is a pilot scheme, so we are looking to test the Energy Local concept locally to make sure it really will save people money before we can roll it out on a larger scale. For the first year, only solar PV will be selling into the club. With the increased rate that generators receive for their electricity many new local renewable energy projects will become economically viable. This is something that TRESOC is working hard to explore and make the most of.

To read more about the prices that the club has set for energy use, and to find out more about registering your interest head to the Energy Local Totnes page.

AGM 2022

by | Oct 19, 2022 | Events, Latest TRESOC News, News

We are pleased to invite you to our Annual General Meeting at 7.00p.m. on Monday 14th November 2022. Members, friends and the public are welcome to attend, ask questions and help us develop our strategy for the year ahead – we’d like to welcome all of you!  Our goal – as always – is that you are aligned with, and endorse, the efforts we are making on your behalf.

The Directors’ Report and a summary of our latest Accounts to 31st March 2022 will be sent out to members prior to the AGM, or you can download them via the links below. A signed copy of the accounts has been submitted to the Financial Services Authority, and will be available here prior to the AGM. In order to attend, email admin@tresoc.co.uk to register and receive the link.

If you are a member and are unable to attend, it is vital you arrange a Proxy Vote. The Rules of TRESOC require 10% of members to vote at the AGM and, with 560 members, every vote counts. Please download and sign the Proxy Voting Form and put through the door at – or post to – TRESOC, 107 High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5SN, or scan and email to admin@tresoc.co.uk.

Notice of AGM 2022
AGM 2022 Agenda
Proxy Form 2022
TRESOC Accounts 2022
Directors' Report 2022
AGM Minutes 2021

Introducing our new Energy Local Coordinator

by | Jul 6, 2022 | Latest TRESOC News, News

We have now appointed an Energy Local Advisor/co-ordinator, Jem Friar, who will be responsible for establishing the Energy Local Totnes Co-operative. If people want to register their interest, they can go onto the Energy Local Totnes page on the Energy Local website: Totnes | Energy Local.

Jem will be working on the project for approximately 6 months. The project has been made possible thanks to grant funding received by TRESOC from Devon County Council to establish an Energy Local Club to buy locally generated renewable energy, which will then be sold through the club at a discounted rate. Local people and businesses will be invited to join the club to benefit from reduced cost electricity and Jem will be working alongside Energy Local CIC to support the club.

Welcome to Hannah Slade, TRESOC’s new Legal Director.

by | Jul 6, 2022 | Latest TRESOC News, News

Hannah is a Senior Associate at Foot Anstey solicitors and is a member of their dispute resolution team specialising in property litigation. Her key areas of interest include enforceability of restrictive covenants and easements.

Hannah works for clients across a variety of sectors including large retailers, high net worth individuals, and landed estates. In all cases she aims to provide clear and practical advice to clients and enjoys tailoring this advice to suit each client whether they’re a multi-national company or an individual.

Sadly, Stephanie Burns has had to step down due to time commitments, but we are very grateful to her for her support over the last 2 years.

Find out more about who’s who at TRESOC on the About Us page

Energy Local Totnes Coordinator

by | May 20, 2022 | Job, News

TRESOC is seeking an Energy Local Totnes Co-ordinator, to work with the team on the Totnes Energy Club. Approx. 100 hours’ work undertaken over the project set-up time (anticipated to be approx. 6 months to 1 year, beginning in June 2022). Please send applications to admin@tresoc.co.uk by 12.00 noon, 10th June 2022.

TRESOC has received grant funding from Devon County Council to establish an Energy Local Club to buy locally generated renewable energy, which will then be sold through the club at a discounted rate. Local people and businesses will be invited to join the club to benefit from reduced cost electricity. The co-ordinator will be responsible for membership and work with Energy Local CIC to support the club. The successful candidate will receive training at the end of June.

Role Description:

Scope of work:
Activities of the Energy Local Co-ordinator

  • Attend one face to face and one online training day with Energy Local C.I.C.
  • Create a local marketing and engagement plan to recruit the required number of households and small businesses to the Energy Local Club.
  • Create promotional materials and information based on resources supplied by Energy Local C.I.C.
  • Management of the Energy Local portal; creating a Club page on the portal and using the portal to monitor and manage registrations to the Club.
  • Informing and corresponding with potential Club members; in person, via phone and email and sending bulk communications using MailChimp.
  • Recruit Co-operative Directors to represent the Club and work with Energy Local to register the Co-operative with the FCA.
  • Adhere to Energy Local ethos and guidance when using the Energy Local Toolkit, portal and Dashboard.
  • Ensure sensitive participant information is kept in accordance with data protection legislation including GDPR.

Energy Local Talk Tuesday 15th March, 6-7pm

by | Mar 10, 2022 | Events, Latest TRESOC News, News

We’re delighted to be hosting Mary Gillie, Founder and Director of Energy Local, for a talk at the REconomy Centre in Totnes on Tuesday 15th March, between 6-7pm. Energy Local is a Community Interest Company transforming the electricity market for communities and small-scale renewable generators. Their mission is to help communities get more value from small-scale renewable generation by using the electricity locally. Thanks to a grant of £25,000 from Team Devon’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery and Business Prospectus Funding, TRESOC will be developing up to five new community-owned rooftop solar PV installations in Totnes. These will combine to establish an Energy Local Club in Totnes (Energy Local Totnes) to buy the electricity generated, effectively establishing Totnes’s own renewable energy marketplace. Within an Energy Local Club, householders and small businesses pay a lower price for electricity if they use renewable energy from local generators when it is generated; the customer pays less, and the generator receives more. Right now, people living near renewables purchase the electricity back for three or four times the price the generator is paid for it.

There are many community and environmental benefits to an ELC. The community benefits from reducing fuel poverty by selling energy affordably and allowing locally owned generators more control over pricing, all keeping the profits in the local economy. The environment benefits by customers reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.

TRESOC are looking for five large south-facing roofs – they could be a school, a row of terraces or an industrial building – and for householders and businesses to join the Club and use the green, local, cheaper energy. They are also looking for someone to train as an energy advisor and to run the club. This will be a paid, part time role with flexible hours so would suit a parent with young children. In addition, volunteers will be needed to support setting up the Club and to be members of the Energy Local Totnes board.

TRESOC will own and operate the solar PV on each of the 5 sites (approximately 250kW, enough to power to boil 250 kettles at peak output) and will raise the capital to install the panels through a community share-offer, which means all profits from the scheme will return to the local economy. The occupiers of each site will have a Power Purchase Agreement with TRESOC for the energy used on site and any excess electricity will be sold into the Energy Local Club within the local substation area. The scheme will be supported by Energy Local CIC, who have established several Clubs in England and Wales. Totnes Energy Local Club will be the first to allow local small businesses to take part. Once the Club is established new generators can join, balanced by new customers, and the club can continue to grow. To take part generators and members of the club need to sign up to the same energy tariff, an Energy Local Tariff, that is currently being provided by Octopus Energy.

Anyone who would like to be involved in the Club, as an energy advisor, a member, a board member, or who knows of a large south facing roof, please email admin@tresoc.co.uk or call TRESOC on 01803 867431. And come to the talk! Places are limited to please book, again by emailing admin@tresoc.co.uk.

 

 

TRESOC has new Finance Director

by | Nov 1, 2021 | Latest TRESOC News, News

TRESOC is delighted to have a new Finance Director, Raymond Seager. We were sorry to say goodbye to Dominic Turner, who had to leave us for health reasons and are sad to lose him. Raymond comes to us with a wealth of experience in finance, working nearly 20 years variously for Bank of America, Barclays and HSBC in public sector finance. He started to focus on environmental finance over 10 years ago, helping to develop the ESG capital markets. He has since broadened into the wider sustainable finance area, encompassing environmental and social projects, and works as a consultant training and advising organisations. He moved to the Totnes area with his wife and two kids in 2017 and becomes TRESOC’s Finance Director in 2021.

RCEF Stage 2 Development grant for Clay Park

by | Oct 19, 2021 | Latest Blog Post, Latest TRESOC News, News

TRESOC and Transition Homes Community Land Trust (THCLT) are thrilled to announce TRESOC’s award of a second Government grant, for £79,710, from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF). The money will be used for the development of a Community Microgrid and Solar scheme at THCLT’s Clay Park development. THCLT has planning permission for 31 highly energy-efficient eco-homes and are currently submitting a planning application to add eight more homes to the site to help balance the books. This application also includes plans to increase the biodiversity of the site through extra tree planting, marsh plants in the damper areas and bird, bee and bat boxes to house wildlife. The housing development will offer a choice of affordable rent or shared ownership for local people in housing need. It has invited TRESOC to become the energy supplier, and to own and operate the energy system.

The innovative microgrid design will enable residents to maximise the use of the 160kW rooftop Solar PV, by sending the green energy to wherever it is needed on site, rather than feeding it back to the grid as is customary. This will make it more efficient and enable the green energy to be sold to the residents at a reduced market rate. TRESOC envisages this to be 10% less than grid price, minimising residents’ energy bills. The energy system software will further maximise energy savings by heating hot water from the daytime solar.

TRESOC received a Stage 1 RCEF Grant to carry out a feasibility study that demonstrated the project is technically and economically viable. The Stage 2 Development Grant will now pay for the technical, legal, financial and community engagement work to take the project to the point of being finance ready.

Jon Rattenbury, Programme Manager for the SW Energy Hub, said: “We are delighted to be supporting TRESOC through the next stages of their Clay Park projects. Innovative projects such as this prove how much community initiatives can achieve in the energy space and the vital role projects like these play in the transition to net zero.”

The grant recognises the innovative nature of the project, which it is hoped will demonstrate an economically viable community business model for providing solar PV on housing estates that can be shared with other community energy groups, and the energy sector more widely. Part of the grant is specifically for knowledge sharing and dissemination, and TRESOC have waived any intellectual property rights. TRESOC are a member of the Devon Community Energy Network and has encouraged the establishment of a microgrids working group to facilitate this knowledge sharing. There are several local community energy groups exploring microgrids, who will be able to share the Clay Park legal and technical templates, greatly reducing their own development costs.

TRESOC are working with Buro Happold for the technical design and Ansley Foot Solicitors for legal work. Communities for Renewables and Westerly Chartered Accountants will be providing financial advice. Within the technical design Buro Happold have already identified several software gaps and are using the project to kick start innovation in these areas which will help other small scale microgrids going forward.

The capital to pay for the infrastructure, ie the microgrid, solar and EV charging system – approximately £160,000 – will be raised through a community share offer. Clay Park residents, TRESOC members and the Totnes and Dartington community will be eligible to participate. The feasibility study projected an interest rate of 3% with a payback period of 20 years. Surplus income from the project will be used to support ongoing energy advice work with residents, a Clay Park Community Fund and TRESOC’s Renewable Energy Experiential Learning (REEL) programme for local primary schools.

On site at Clay Park, the access road has gone in. However, the main construction project is delayed while THCLT await the outcome of their revised planning application. They hope to begin construction in the new year.