The Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral project has been selected as one of 20 communities to receive government funding worth up to £500,000.
The Cheshire village, with a population of c.1000, learned today that it was guaranteed financial support via the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Low Carbon Community Challenge, a two-year investment programme to catalyse emission reduction activity at community level.
Ashton Hayes’ funding will be used primarily to transform the village's local school into a mini power station, equipping it with a combined heat and power (CHP) system and a host of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics.
Surplus energy will then feed into the local grid and generate a portion of the community’s electricity needs.
The project could be the first in the UK where a community-based renewable energy power plant utilises existing electricity grid infrastructure.
Full funding details will be announced on Monday during a kick-off meeting in London hosted by DECC Minister of State for Energy Joan Ruddock.
Since 2006 Ashton Hayes has been attempting to become the first in the England to achieve carbon neutrality.
The democratic project, which is run via the parish council, was devised by local resident Garry Charnock, who works as a director at Helsby-based RSK Group, the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy.
Based on annual surveys carried out by the University of Chester, it is estimated that domestic CO2 emissions have fallen by 23% to date.
Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral has inspired communities across the world to take action and has garnered international media attention, including a video feature during Al Gore’s climate change awareness-raising extravaganza, Live Earth.
The project is also mentioned in the Government’s Energy White Paper as an example of community-based best practice and has previously received funding worth £26,000 from DEFRA.
Helsby-headquartered RSK Group is one of Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral’s main business sponsors, providing financial support as well as pro bono technical services such as geographical information systems (GIS), video production and graphic design free of charge.
Garry Charnock said: “This is amazing news for Ashton Hayes, and a true signal that community-based action will be integral to the creation of the UK’s low carbon economy. It is also a lot of fun to be involved and for the community to take ownership of its own electricity generation.”
RSK Group chairman Dr Alan Ryder said: “I am absolutely delighted Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral has been selected to receive funding from DECC. RSK Group is honoured to be associated with a project that has had a remarkable impact on changing behaviour and attitudes related to climate change both locally and globally.”
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