Small-scale low-carbon generation reintroduced in the UK

There has been a lot of campaigning to encourage new solar panelling - and to encourage government support:
Support Solar — 10:10
Futures Forum: 'Daylight robbery' > how the government wants you to donate your solar power to the energy companies

It seems to have paid off:
A fair deal for solar: the government are listening — 10:10

Sustainable Crediton reports:

Government U Turn on Payments for Exported Renewable Energy

With the closure of the Feed-in tariff scheme for new installations of solar panels in March 2019, it was thought that future exports of electricity from new home installations from April 2019 would have to be provided free. However the Government have U-turned following fierce criticism and are now consulting on the Smart Export Guarantee. Under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), government would legislate for suppliers to remunerate small-scale low-carbon generators for the electricity they export to the grid..

A new consultation has just been published which closes on the 5th March 2019..

Sustainable Crediton - Government U Turn on Payments for Exported Renewable Energy

This is the government's portal:
The future for small-scale low-carbon generation - GOV.UK

The industry has responded:
Export guarantee assessment suggests solar deployment impact to be minimal | Solar Power Portal
A new era or a mountain to climb? BEIS export guarantee receives mixed bag of responses | Solar Power Portal
Government resurrects renewable export tariff - Utility Week
UK unveils small-scale RE lifeline - reNews - Renewable Energy News
'New era' for UK solar, as government U-turn promises payments for exported renewable power - Business Green

Here are a couple of non-industry views:
Community Energy England raises concerns over new green energy supplier proposals - Co-operative News

Smart Export Guarantee a step towards smart energy market

Britain is still some years away from having a truly smart energy market despite the welcome introduction of a new scheme to reward homes and businesses that supply low carbon electricity they generate to the national grid, an expert has said.11 Jan 2019

Smart Export Guarantee a step towards smart energy market - Out-law
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Climate change: "there is a sense of a new consciousness abroad concerning the future of our planet"

A seasonal message from Sustainable Crediton:

As the year turns, there is a sense of a new consciousness abroad concerning the future of our planet. In Australia, school children are protesting at what they see as an inadequate response to climate change by their government. Their Prime Minister's response that 'what we want is more learning in schools and less activism in schools' raises an interesting question about the learning value of activism.

At home, the widespread actions of the Extinction Rebellion movement have been little reported, but may be poised to take more centre stage in the year to come.

In Sweden, a fifteen year old schoolgirl, Greta Thunberg, is conducting a one person protest about climate change which is inspiring others across the globe.

It is heartening to see so many young people galvanised into action and no longer prepared to settle for warm words from our leaders. They surely deserve our respect and support.

Sustainable Crediton - Welcome to Sustainable Crediton
Sustainable Crediton - Sustainable Crediton Newsletter Issue 98

This blog has looked at the Extinction Rebellion movement:
Futures Forum: Climate change > Extinction Rebellion and direct action

And what's been happening in Australia meanwhile has caught the imagination worldwide:

Teachers are busted urging students to skip school to attend a nationwide political protest - and even gave tips on how to avoid punishment for skipping class

Thousands to take part in the nationwide Big School Walk Out for Climate Action
Organisers encourage students to abandon classes to attend the demonstration
PM urged pupils not to attend, saying he didn't want to see 'activism in schools'
Some teachers advised students on how to avoid being punished for truancy 

By MAX MARGAN and SAM LOCK FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
30 November 2018

Teachers have been caught urging students to skip school so they can take to the streets for an organised protest.

Thousands of people are expected to take part in the nationwide Big School Walk Out for Climate Action on Friday, which will start in Sydney outside the NSW Parliament House at 12pm. Events are planned in all capital cities, along with 20 regional areas. Organisers have encouraged primary and high school students across the country to abandon classes and attend.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged students to attend classes, saying he didn't want to see 'activism in schools'. 

Thousands are expected to take part in the Big School Walk Out for Climate Action on Friday

The Sydney protest will start outside NSW Parliament House at midday on Friday. Demonstrations are planned on the day nationwide

A union-affiliated group praised the group for its 'heroics'.

'Your heroic example is an ­inspiration to us all and we wish to convey our sincere support for you all on this vital issue,' secretary of the Inner City Teachers Association, John Gauci, wrote, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Students told the publication some teachers have advised them of a loophole that can help them avoid punishment for truancy...

Big School Walk Out for Climate Action: Teachers are caught out urging students to wag school | Daily Mail Online 

Students hit back at PM after 'less activism in schools' climate change comment

Hundreds of students are planning to leave school this Friday to protest government inaction on climate change.

27 November
By Nick Baker

There's a storm brewing between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and school students planning a national strike on climate change inaction this Friday.

Hundreds of students are vowing to put the books away and converge on MP offices and parliaments around the country in the Big School Walk Out for Climate Action.

On Monday, Mr Morrison implored children to stay in class rather than protesting things that "can be dealt with outside of school. What we want is more learning in schools and less activism in schools," he said.

But students aren't happy with the response. Melbourne student Jagveer Singh, who will take part in the protest, said Mr Morrison's broadside made him "want to go on strike even more"...

Students hit back at PM after 'less activism in schools' climate change comment - sbs.com 

Student protests show Australian education does get some things right

December 5, 2018 11.40pm GMT

Kellie Bousfield
Jacquie Tinkler



Australia’s education system often suffers a barrage of criticism – claims of stagnant or declining NAPLAN results, slippage in international comparisons and rankings, and an irrelevant curriculum, tend to draw the attention of politicians, the media, and the Australian public.

It’s not often we are able to celebrate what’s right in Australia’s education system. But yesterday’s student presence at Parliament house and Friday’s protests where more than 15,OOO Australian students skipped class to demand greater action on climate change should be cause for celebration.

Read more: The world needs a new generation of citizen lobbyists

Far from being concerned about an afternoon off school, parents should feel satisfied schools and teachers are doing their job. Participation in these protests meets many of the key goals of our current education system, including students’ capacity to engage in, and strengthen, democracy. Rather than proof of a flawed education system, politically active and engaged students are evidence many aspects of our education system are working well...

Student protests show Australian education does get some things right - The Conversation

With the planet burning, we need to take control ourselves

Our representatives seem to be incapable of a serious response. Schools and workplaces should become parliaments

‘Across Australia, students marched for action on what Kevin Rudd called, all those years ago, the “greatest moral challenge of a generation” – and politicians responded with adolescent trolling’ Photograph: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Jeff Sparrow
Wed 5 Dec 2018

If the conservative resistance to marriage reform taught the high school students of 2017 not to trust the Liberals, Scott Morrison seems now determined to repeat the lesson for their slightly younger brothers and sisters.

“We do not support our schools being turned into parliaments,” the prime minister explained. “What we want is more learning in schools and less activism in schools.”

“Parliament” derives from the old French word for talk – and the walkouts brought the conversation about climate change into every school.

Climate change strike: thousands of school students protest across Australia

That was what made them so powerful.

In the past, many mainstream campaigns about climate relied on a top-down approach in which some celebrity or another lectured the great unwashed about the need to replace lightbulbs regularly. That method provided rich material for denialists to exploit – and they duly painted environmental crusaders as finger-waving elitists telling everyday folk what to do.

But you can’t go on strike by yourself (at least, not with any success). To build protests of the scale we saw last week, activists needed to persuade their classmates. Like any manifestation of direct politics, the walkout meant ordinary people talking together: about the climate but also about tactics, strategy, and related issues.

Those face-to-face debates (so rare in contemporary life) gave the students their remarkable confidence.

“We are in a period of abrupt climate breakdown,” says the British civil disobedience group Extinction Rebellion. “We have to start acting like the adults we are. We are children no longer.”

Ironically, it’s the youth showing what that maturity means. Across Australia, students marched for action on what Kevin Rudd called, all those years ago, the “greatest moral challenge of a generation” – and politicians responded with adolescent trolling.

“If they’re really serious,” said Liberal MP Craig Kelly (a member of the House of Representatives’ environment and energy committee, no less), “they should make a commitment – no ice-cream, no hamburgers and no trips to the Gold Coast for schoolies, because of all the emissions from the airplanes.”

...

With the planet burning, we need to take control ourselves | Jeff Sparrow | Opinion | The Guardian
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"In Our Hands: Seeding Change" > film & discussion in Tiverton: Tues 27th November

Sustainable Crediton is promoting an event in Tiverton next week: 

In Our Hands: Seeding Change

27 November 2018 19:30 to 21:00

Old Heathcote Community Centre, 81, King Street, Tiverton EX16 5JJ 

Mid Devon Green Party and the Landworkers Alliance present:

In Our Hands - Seeding Change - What does it mean to have a food system that's good for the planet, fair to producers, and nourishes us well?

As Brexit puts our food security on the table once again LWA looks to forgotten farmers and food activists for the answers to our broken food culture.

Free entry - Film and discussion - All Welcome

See the trailer here
Enquiries 01647 24789.

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In Our Hands Film - Seeding Change
Sustainable Crediton - In Our Hands: Seeding Change

And as a reminder of the work which Sustainable Crediton does, here's a reminder of an event they held at the other end of the year: 

Seed Share Celebrates a Bumper Year

1 March 2018

Record numbers joined us for the tenth annual Crediton Seed Share: Share, Grow, Eat, on 24 February at the Boniface Centre, organised by the Food Group, which is establishing itself as Sustainable Crediton's flagship event.

The Seed Share is an opportunity to bring, share and exchange seeds we have saved from our gardens, with the aim of supporting bio-diversity, promoting heritage varieties, and encouraging people to grow their own vegetables. There were also plenty of donated plants and bulbs to offer a new home.

We welcomed back regular fixtures such as the Devon Wildlife Trust, Orchards Live, and of course entertainment from The Woodmen playing songs from their new album Shobrooke Moon. Moving to the larger space of the Boniface Centre meant we were able to invite new stallholders, including the RSPB, Significant Seams and Traidcraft, in line with our broader interest in sustainable living. Sustainable Crediton's Waste Group this year took over some of the catering, making a range of delicious soups from waste food donated from several Crediton businesses.

Thanks to Tuckers for their generous donation of materials for children's planting activities, donors of surplus food, stallholders, visitors, and to Dee Ross for her hard work coordinating the event. The Food Group will now take a well-earned break, but will reconvene after Easter (look out for meeting dates on the website). If you have been inspired by Share, Grow, Eat, and would like to join a small and very friendly group, you would be very welcome!

Sustainable Crediton - Seed Share Celebrates a Bumper Year
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Clothes Swap in Crediton > Saturday 24th November

A message from Sustainable Crediton: 

Fashion's Dirty Secrets

28 October 2018

Watch as Stacey Dooley travels the world to uncover the hidden costs of the addiction to fast fashion. She sees for herself how toxic chemicals released by the garment industry pollute waterways that millions of people rely on. She witnesses the former Aral Sea, once one of the largest bodies of fresh water, now reduced almost entirely to dust.

These are shocking discoveries likely to make you think twice about whether you really need those new clothes.

Instead you could go to our Clothes Swap on the 24th November at the Congregational Church

Sustainable Crediton - Fashion's Dirty Secrets
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Currently 55% of household waste is recycled in Devon > with a potential of up to 71% > the rest is incinerated

Back in April, the Vision Group's SidEnergy put on a trip to Exeter:
Futures Forum: SidEnergy visit to Exeter waste-to-energy plant >>> report: very positive and encouraging but still questions about recycling plastic waste...

Several questions arose at the time - which led to this FOI request:
Futures Forum: County Council and plastic pollution >>> "the Council will use its position and responsibility to raise awareness of the issues surrounding single-use plastics" >>> BUT the Council "does not hold information" on how its reprocessors deal with its plastic waste

Earlier this month, Sustainable Crediton paid a visit to Exeter:

Visit to Exeter Energy from Waste facility

13 September 2018

Members of Sustainable Crediton recently accepted Crediton Town Council's offer to visit the Energy from Waste site with them. Operational since July 2014, this facility has state of the art technology to monitor the waste and its outputs. It takes the waste from a population of 779,834. 55% of household waste is now recycled but this still leaves approximately 1 ton per household to deal with. Landfill has run out and this facility was deemed the solution rather than long distance shipping of waste to another facility.

Waste is brought in by an almost continuous supply of a vehicles which then tip the waste into a huge concrete hole in the ground. One side of the wall is a glass viewing screen via which staff operate the crane feeding the hoppers that fill the incinerator, a 24 hours a day operation.  Part of the waste is stacked to make sure there is enough to keep the system running at night. It is part space age technology as you watch the many screens monitoring and adjusting the oscillating  furnace machinery for optimum operation and part nightmare as you watch the grab lift the waste and see just how much there is that could and should be recycled.

New treatments mean the waste from the end of the process is a lot safer than earlier incinerators, the formerly dangerous fly ash is now starting to be used to make breeze blocks and the remaining waste goes for road making. The news that only part of the energy produced is usable locally was disappointing. As the plant was built after the surrounding businesses and homes, the infrastructure is not there to supply it.

Devon County Council is not complacent, they are still promoting recycling and suggest that up to 71% of waste could be recycled. Currently in Mid Devon we are at 53.4% with Teignbridge leading with 55.7%, though Mid Devon has shown the largest growth recently. A lot of work is going on with school education, as DCC believe it is by educating the next generation we may hope to reduce waste and recycle more.

Sustainable Crediton - Visit to Exeter Energy from Waste facility
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Knowle relocation project: "Another local government HQ sale horror story" as Mid Devon District Council sells Crediton short

Last year, the Mid Devon District Council decided it should sell off Crediton Town Hall - to the highest bidder:

Not everyone was happy:
Decision to sell off Crediton council offices at full market value is questioned - Devon Live

And now it is being further challenged:
Residents in last ditch plea to Mid Devon halt Crediton town hall sale - Devon Live
Complaints over town hall sale to be investigated by chief executive - Devon Live 

As reported by the EDW:
Another local government HQ sale horror story | East Devon Watch

Here's the story from a week ago:

Sale of Crediton Town Hall "an affront to democracy" say campaigners

Alderman of Mid Devon David Nation joins the fight to save the hall from being sold

Lewis Clarke
23 AUG 2018

A photo of local group campaigning outside the Grade 2 listed council offices.

Fresh impetus has been given to a campaign in the Crediton area to stop Mid Devon District Council selling off the building which has been devoted to local government and serving the local community for over 150 years.

Built around 1850 by James Wentworth Buller, sometime MP for the area, whose descendants still live in their 17 century manor house on the edge of town, he sold it to the police for it to be used as a police station, with holding cells, and magistrates court in 1858. In 1972 it was sold to Crediton Urban District Council but transferred to Mid Devon District Council upon local government reorganisation in 1974. The former magistrates court has been used as an impressive council chamber ever since.

David Nation, a Mid Devon Alderman: “Now three members of Mid Devon District Council Cabinet have decided to sell the building to the highest commercial bidder, despite the full council (42 members) having decided in February that they should sell the building to Crediton Town Council at half the value, in the same way they sold the town hall to Tiverton Town Council (the major town in the district) a few years ago.

“In 1974 there were 17 District Council staff employed at the building but they had been pulled out completely by 2016, retrenching in Tiverton some 14 miles away and pretty much inaccessible to local people unless you have your own transport.

“So the presence of the Town Council in the Crediton building is the only practical link the local population has with local government for the town and over 25 parishes in the surrounding rural area. Apart from the Town Council, one of the neighbouring parish councils meets there, the building accommodates the offices of Citizens Advice and the local Community Transport group, and more than 20 local voluntary groups, use the facilities offered by the building. They are all being made homeless by this decision.

“Hundreds of local people have complained to the District Council about the proposed sale but the District Council appointed an estate agent and accepted an offer, subject to contract, almost two months ago.

“At this 11 hour a petition urging the Council to reverse the decision is gaining hundreds of signatures and several local residents have lodged formal complaints to the District Council about the undemocratic way in which they have handled the affair. In my letter of complaint I have to the Chief Executive Stephen Walford, I described the decision as an ‘affront to democracy’ and accuses the Council of maladministration.”

Speaking at a separate meeting, Councillor Ray Stanley of Mid Devon District Council said they had received an offer of twice the size of that which had been offered by Crediton Town Council within the private sector.

Sale of Crediton Town Hall "an affront to democracy" say campaigners - Devon Live
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Fishy Filiaments: transforming end-of-life fishing gear into commercially viable products

Here's a little video about a very interesting, award-winning company in Cornwall dealing with plastic fishing waste:

The increase in plastic wastes found in the marine environment is a global phenomenon that manifests itself on a local scale. Whether they are microbeads washed into the sea from their use in cosmetics, fishing nets snagged on the seabed, microfibres released from clothes when washed or even a tragic outcome of a tsunami, the issue of plastics in our shared oceans is rising on environmental, economic and political agendas.

Fishy Filaments™ doesn’t pretend to address all these issues. Our aim is to provide a win-win solution to fishing communities by taking end-of-life fishing gear and some of the plastics caught during normal fishing activities, then transforming them into commercially viable products that have the potential for a multitude of uses.

Our first product will be a recycled nylon filament for use in 3D printing. Unlike established nylon recycling routes our solution uses simple mechanical and thermal processes that can be achieved at a local scale and with no harsh chemicals added. Our next project is to complete on-going R&D on recycling larger trawl nets made of polyethylene and polypropylene.

We are currently working with Mylor Ventures Ltd, a venture catalyst & angel investor network, and with the support of the Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commissioners to establish our first production unit at Newlyn in Cornwall, UK.

A successful fund raising on Crowdcube has brought in 407 new investors whose funds will take Fishy Filaments into production.

Winner of Best Innovator Cornwall Susainability Awards 2017

Shortlisted in the category Best Recycled Product of the Year


Fishy Filaments – Recycling marine plastics into 3D printing filament 

Again, with thanks to Sustainable Crediton:Sustainable Crediton - Fishy Filaments
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Join the Drastic Plastic Mission!

Something to share on Facebook:
Can you solve this challenge with us? We... - Plastic Pollution Coalition

With the problems and possible solutions:



PlasticPollution

Published on Feb 16, 2018

Can you solve this challenge with us? We need YOUR ideas to get supermarkets to stop using so much plastic. 

Download the app 👉 http://www.anewmission.org/join-the-r... 

and together we can demand change 

🌏 Thanks to @MakeAChangeWorld and @AnewMission #DrasticPlastic

 Drastic Plastic - YouTube

With thanks to Sustainable Crediton:
Sustainable Crediton - Two more ways to stop plastic pollution
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The Clean Air Campaign

A message from the latest Sustainable Crediton newsletter:

31st October 2017

Simple things you can do: Clean air campaign

Clean air - we all want to know our air is healthy. But too many of us breathe dirty air every day, especially in our towns and cities. Air pollution is a hidden killer and it hits children, older people and the poorest hardest.

This is where you can find the facts about air pollution: its causes, impacts, how to avoid it and how to help stop it. You can find out who is most affected by air pollution, investigate the air quality near you and even get in touch with other people working for cleaner air.

Sustainable Crediton - 2017

This is the Friends of the Earth campaign kit:
Clean Air Campaign What you can do | Friends of the Earth

It's a serious issue:
Futures Forum: “We know the effects of poor air quality run from cradle to grave. It's a lifetime threat to human health.”

The government is doing some positive things:
Futures Forum: How to deal with air pollution: ban all diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040 >>> "The writing is on the wall for gasoline-powered cars."

And some not so positive things:
Futures Forum: "Unfairly shifting the burden" of dealing with air pollution on to local authorities

In fact, there are many organisations campaigning for better quality air:
Futures Forum: Campaigning for a new Clean Air Act

For example:
Why do we need healthy air? - HealthyAir
Clean Air in London – Campaigning to achieve urgently and sustainably compliance with World Health Organisation guidelines for air quality throughout London
About our clean air campaign | British Lung Foundation
Campaign – Clean Air Now
I Like Clean Air
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Grubs Up in Crediton! >>> Saturday 30th September >>> using surplus food donated by local shops, cafes and supermarkets to put together a free lunch

There are more and more initiatives to tackle food waste:
The UK’s first food waste supermarket opens: in pictures | The Independent
Britain's first food waste 'supermarket' opens produce that was destined for skip | Daily Mail Online

There's quite a network developing:
The Food Waste Network - Food Waste Stories

And in Devon, Sustainable Crediton are putting together a lunch (free - but book - and do give a contribution):

Grub's Up

30 September 2017 12:30 to 15:00

The Boniface Centre Church Lane Crediton EX17 2AH  

Grubs Up! is a pilot community meal using surplus food donated by local shops, cafes and supermarkets.

Please join us for a free lunch. Help feed bellies not bins and pick up top tips on reducing food waste at home

You are invited to share this free lunch as a supporter of Waste Action Group events, or your involvment with Sustainable Crediton. Click on the link via the poster to book.

If you have the time, we will welcome help with food preparation and clearing up. Please contact Esther Mann, details in the column on the right.

Poster

Here's the poster in bigger format:

Grubs Up! Crediton Tickets, Sat, 30 Sep 2017 at 12:30 | Eventbrite
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Brexit: and the future for rural Devon in the global economy

Local MPs look forward to a green and pleasant land post-Brexit:
Futures Forum: Brexit: and how to make a 'Green Brexit' work

There are several options for rural communities:
Futures Forum: Rural tourism is 'worth more than farming'
Futures Forum: Brexit: and Countryside Matters
Futures Forum: Brexit: and 10 key questions for rural policy

The Devon Communities Together, the community council for Devon, is putting on an event next month:

What does the future hold for rural Devon in the global economy?

Monday, 7 August 2017 By Crediton Courier Newspaper in Local Peoplerev

WITH Brexit, globalisation and the environment dominating the political landscape, Devon Communities Together, the community council for Devon, explores what the implications might mean for the county’s rural communities.

Prominent academics and pioneers of industry will offer valuable insights at the sixth annual Rural Futures Conference, which will be held on Thursday, September 28 at Westpoint Conference Centre, near Exeter. 

Professor Michael Woods from Aberystwyth University will explore how rural communities in particular can respond to the challenges of globalisation.

Dr Sally Basker from Exeter Science Park will be exploring whether new technology can offer a new future for rural communities.

Philip Cork from Crediton Dairy will look at the international dimensions of running an essentially "local" industry.

Dr Christopher Balch from the University of Plymouth will be discussing the impact of globalisation and asking how the South West can respond.

Huw Davies from PETROC College will discuss the challenges of becoming a more caring and inclusive society through a period of economic uncertainty.

Elaine Cook, Devon Communities Together CEO said: “This conference is about taking a step back from the fast pace of the world and exploring how Devon fits into the jigsaw.

"This year, we’re delighted to invite a number of prominent academics and leaders of industry to speak. For anyone with a vested interest in Devon, or in rural communities generally, this is the place to be.”

Martin Rich, event co-ordinator, said: “There are differing views on the benefits, or otherwise, of global economic and social forces on rural communities. Brexit may be just a side-show to greater dynamic as international centres of influence and power shift. There is a reaction against globalisation, is this the future or just an adjustment?

"Can ‘me first’ ever be a reality? We will explore the issues, not the sound-bites and discover a new direction for Devon.”

Devon Communities Together, the operating name for the Community Council of Devon, is an independent charitable company, founded in 1961. It is part of a national network of Rural Community Councils.

Devon Communities Together supports communities in many ways, including technical support for local councils, community halls and social enterprises. It helps communities develop new and imaginative ways of meeting needs, working in partnership with statutory bodies and voluntary organisations.

To book tickets, or for further information, telephone Devon Communities Together on 01392 248919 or visit the website: www.devoncommunities.org.uk .

Alan Quick

What does the future hold for rural Devon in the global economy? | News | Crediton Country Courier
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"Doing it Ourselves" >>> Forum for a New Local Economy >>> looking at opportunities: meeting Torbay 4th March

On Thursday, the Devon New Economy group will be meeting up again:
Futures Forum: "Doing it Ourselves" >>> Forum for a New Local Economy >>> meeting Torbay 4th March

Sustainable Crediton has more details:

Doing It Ourselves: Forum for a New Local Economy 4 March 2017 09:45 to 16:00 South West Energy Centre South Devon College Long Rd TQ4 7BJ Paignton  . "Doing it ourselves"  - Forum for a New Local Economy We all know we're in a unique historical moment - Brexit, shifting international politics, a weakening Pound and massive economic uncertainty across the world. Against this background, we're already facing rising challenges across Devon and Torbay - lack of decent jobs and affordable housing, continued council budget cutbacks, NHS under threat, the wrong development priorities, etc. BUT there are opportunities in all this chaos and we can start making good things happen, right here, ourselves. There are exciting community-led economic solutions already making a difference across the region supporting local entrepreneurs, launching new enterprises, finding new sources of community finance, investing in local renewable energy production for local benefit, timebanking and supporting one another. All this means more jobs,  and a more resilient and inclusive local economy. Join us and other changemakers from Brixham, Paignton, Torquay and across Devon to connect, get inspired, learn something new, and start new collaborative relationships. This is the 3rd Devon Convergence event and will prove to be just as useful and productive as the previous two have been. The format of the day will include presentations, workshops and 'open space', with lots of chances to connect with people you should meet, learn things you'd like to learn.  The location will be perfect - the South West Energy Centre and PassivHaus. Keynote speaker:  Fernanda Balata, new economics foundation Fernanda is co-author and lead researcher of the Blue New Deal, and important piece of work for understanding the unique challenges faced by coastal communities and identifying the opportunities for community-led development.  She'll present some key insight of special relevance for Torbay and other Devon coastal communities, and will contribute through out the day. Her participation offers a valuable opportunity for local organisers, entrepreneuers, and policymakers - don't miss it! More details about the day's agenda coming soon.  Book your place and help spread the word. Cost: sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds Lunch: Please bring own lunch, there is a cafe on site but with limited capactity ** Please bring your own mug for hot drinks and reduce waste!

Help us spread the word! print an A4 poster and put it up in a public place or print an A5 flyer to hand out to friends. (Tip: If you are using Internet Explorer don't forget to set your Header & Footer details to Empty in your Page Setup.)

Sustainable Crediton - Doing It Ourselves: Forum for a New Local Economy

Fernanda has been working with Devon projects:
Futures Forum: The Blue New Deal from the New Economics Foundation @ Climate Week in Sidmouth: the presentation
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Smart meters are coming, whether you like it or not >>> >>> the risks and benefits

There's a lot of scepticism around the promise of smart meters:
Futures Forum: 'Smart meters', Big Energy and Big Utility >>> Award-winning documentary "Take Back Your Power" >>> showing in Sidmouth Tues 24th February

Although less for the 'smart grid':
Futures Forum: The solar-powered smart grid

Sustainable Crediton has been looking at the issues:

How will data collected from smart meters help us?

2 February 2017

The smart grid revolution is coming, whether you like it or not.

With smart meters due in every home by 2020 some of us may be wondering why all this data needed, who will benefit and what risks come with it?

We've tried to answer some of these kinds of questions in this blog on the YouGen website.

Sustainable Crediton - How will data collected from smart meters help us?

And here it is:

How will data collected from smart meters help us?

Posted by Jason Ramsdale 

on 20 January 2017 at 11:50 am

The smart grid revolution is coming, whether you like it or not. With smart meters due in every home by 2020 some of us may be wondering why all this data needed, who will benefit and what risks come with it? We've tried to answer some of these kinds of questions in this blog.

What is in it for you?

• Convenience, no manual meter readings are needed
• Smart meters could lead to smart appliances e.g. a washing machine where you preload your laundry then it washes during spikes in power using cheap electricity, helping load management and returning cost benefits for you
• Smart meters enable time of use tariffs which could lead to appliances with built in batteries for TVs and fridges to take advantage of cheap off-peak electricity
• Energy companies and energy saving advice services would, with your permission, be able to provide detailed and personal advise on your electricity use.

What is in it for energy companies and governments?

• Allows real-time and predictive load management
• Policing. If the police have access to the data it could be used to identify potential crimes such as growing cannabis

What is in it for everyone?

• Accurate billing with continuous meter readings
• Cheating and fraud easier to locate, helping to keep bills down for everyone else
• Better load management can allow for more integration of green technology such as solar and wind
• More data will allow investors to better identify where more capacity and energy storage is needed

Potential issues:

A potential privacy concern is that energy companies could learn your routine, know when you shower, when you wash clothes, when you go to bed and when you leave your home. But providing this data is secure, encrypted and not publicly available, does this really matter? You’re just one of many, and a nosey neighbour could probably figure this out anyway if they wanted to. The data doesn’t have to have the name/address transmitted or stored with it, your name and address could be kept in a separate offline look up table to keep your identity safe. This way, if your data was intercepted and a hacker did manage to decrypt it, which is highly unlikely, it would still be anonymous.

Other concerns include whether this level of information could lead to control and regulation of electricity use. Could a company decide to turn your heating or air conditioning down, rather like something from George Orwell's 1984? And the answer is... probably not. Although the Big Brother potential of a smart grid could have some helpful opt-in services. This could be as simple as managing your heating while you are away, perhaps co-ordinating with your phone and diary to heat the home ready for your return. Less conventionally, the real-time data might highlight breaks in routine power use and identify that an elderly person could have had a fall and automatically schedule a check-up.

Who would ensure that the energy company is sticking to the rules?

In the UK there would be third party regulation and oversight. Both Ofcom and Ofgen are likely to be involved in enforcing protective government legislation on how your data would be collected, used and shared.

Questions I would want to ask my smart meter provider:

• Who will own and who will have access to my data?
• Who could sell my data? Data can be worth a lot of money, just ask Google! Will sharing my data guarantee me a discount?
• Who will keep my data, where will they keep it and how long for?
• How much will it cost to store everyone's data and who will pay it?
• Will I have a choice about this as to whether the data is transmitted continuously or in batches?
• If real-time tariffs become available, will I be able to see real-time wholesale electricity costs?

It appears that many of the smart meters which are being installed now, not only can’t cope with microgeneration, but actually aren’t that ‘smart’ at all and will require replacing before 2020.¹

Conclusions

We are still in the early days of the smart-grid revolution but one thing is already becoming clear; whatever technology and policies we choose to implement, they need to be clear and reliable. With transparency comes trust. Companies will need to educate their customers on how they will handle and use their data and what security measures will be taken to protect their privacy. If companies want more access to our data then they'll need to seek our permission and to build trust they will need to explain what they want, why they want it, and what is in it for us?

Image: Big brother by glasseyes view.

Related Blogs

1. Early energy supplier 'smart' meter incompatible with solar PV?

How smart are smart meters?

Concerns with the smart meters roll-out

Home energy management systems: the future or a passing fad?

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