Research Project Summary
Recent policy statements, culminating in the 2003 Energy White Paper, have placed growing importance on the use of renewable energy in the UK. As part of this, there has been increased interest in the potential for community-based energy projects from the public, private and voluntary sectors alike. It is possible that through co-operative community partnerships, new technologies and developments will be more readily accepted. These should be more appropriate for the local context and more able to bring communities a range of economic and social as well as environmental benefits.

This research will evaluate the role of community initiatives in the implementation and embedding of sustainable energy technologies in the UK and seek to shed light on the benefits or challenges that arise in using the community route to achieve the uptake of sustainable technologies. The project will run for two years, funded by the ESRC Sustainable Technologies Programme. Professor Gordon Walker (Lancaster University Geography Department) is leading the project with Dr Patrick Devine Wright (Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University) and Professor Bob Evans (Sustainable Cities Research Institute, Northumbria University) collaborating.

To find out more about the project researchers please visit the Researchers and contact info page.

For more info on the project partners and the Sustainable Technologies Programme please visit our Links page.

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Page updated 26-07-06