The red-brick Frampton Park Estate in east London, seemingly ordinary with its five-story social housing blocks and rooftop solar panels, holds a secret. It’s a beacon of hope in the city’s push for a fair energy transition, ensuring even low-income residents benefit directly from solar power.
Imagine a future where clean energy isn’t just for the wealthy. That’s the dream Hackney is striving for, turning rooftops into power plants for the people.
Power to the People: A Vision of Equitable Energy
“One of the most important things for us is for this energy transition to be just,” says Sarah Young, a driving force behind the project at Hackney Council. “We want to make Hackney livable, for everyone, especially those who are the most vulnerable.”
For too long, social housing tenants have been excluded from the financial advantages of rooftop solar, despite often being the ones who need it most. But Hackney is changing that narrative.
Breaking Down Barriers: A Regulatory Revolution
In 2023, Emergent Energy, a Hackney-based company, achieved a monumental victory by successfully lobbying for changes in UK regulations. Now, residents in social housing can directly access the clean, affordable energy generated right above their heads!
Before this game-changing decision, most of that precious energy was sold back to the grid, leaving tenants with no direct benefit. “The customers can now get some of the value,” explains Reg Platt, the founder and CEO of Emergent Energy.
Hackney’s Solar Revolution: Numbers That Speak Volumes
Across Hackney, around 4,000 solar panels have been strategically installed on 28 social housing blocks and three estates. This impressive setup generates one megawatt of energy, fulfilling a fifth of the blocks’ energy demands.
Here’s the kicker:
- As many as 800 residents are poised to save 15 percent on their energy bills.
- The savings are compared to the current market rate.
- This all thanks to Emergent Energy’s innovative approach.
Solar Microgrids: A Community-Driven Power Source
This transformative system, a collaborative effort with Hackney Council’s energy services arm, Hackney Light and Power, relies on solar microgrids. These semi-autonomous electricity networks are directly powered by the rooftop solar electricity. The recent policy changes primarily focused on enabling the use of microgrid wiring within buildings.
Frampton Park Estate proudly stands as the first successful implementation of this groundbreaking concept in the UK.
Opt-In Power: Choice and Empowerment
While the infrastructure is ready and residents are eager to participate, joining the project is entirely voluntary. Those who choose to sign up with Emergent Energy simply need a new electricity meter installed, a process that typically takes only a couple of hours.
“While it’s positive if people sign up, we don’t need all residents to [for the project to be viable],” assures Young.
Building Trust: A Partnership for Success
The collaboration between the public and private sectors has been crucial to the project’s promising trajectory. Emergent Energy leverages the council’s established relationships and trusted presence to engage with residents directly about the project, complementing traditional communication methods like letters and public meetings.
“The council is a trusted provider,” emphasizes Young. “We use people that residents know. These are local councilors that have been elected.”
Scaling Up: A Vision for the Future
Emergent Energy believes this model can be scaled across the UK’s 5.4 million apartments, including two million social housing units. This could unlock the potential to generate a staggering 6.75 gigawatts of solar energy, representing a clean energy investment of £13.5 billion ($18.5 billion USD).
This green energy transition holds the key to broader benefits, addressing energy equality and ensuring a brighter future for all.
Tackling Energy Poverty: A Matter of Social Justice
In the UK, over six million households struggle to afford their energy bills. Hackney, a diverse borough with a significant elderly population and high rates of energy poverty, recognizes the urgent need for change.
“If we are going to make the borough livable, it has to be for everyone, taking everyone along with us, so that nobody is left behind,” Young passionately states.
Affordable and Clean Energy for All
Proponents argue that solar microgrids not only reduce energy bills but also support local authorities’ climate action plans. They perfectly align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal “Affordable and Clean Energy,” which calls for universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, encompassing improved energy efficiency, increased renewables, and a diversified energy mix.
Resilience in the Face of Crisis: Microgrids as a Safety Net
Irene Calve Saborit, a program manager at Sustainable Energy for All, emphasizes the critical role of microgrids in enhancing local and regional climate resilience, particularly as extreme weather events become more frequent.
“Microgrids will be essential,” she asserts. “Imagine if a big storm or hurricane destroys the centralized grid. With microgrids, you can still ensure basic electricity for households.”
A Sustainable Model: Independence from Subsidies
Emergent Energy’s model stands out because its solar microgrids can thrive without relying on government subsidies. These microgrids generate returns for private investors, with building owners bearing the initial setup costs and recouping their investment through the revenues generated.
Hackney Council has invested £2 million in the project, an amount it expects to fully recover.
Lessons Learned: A Path Forward
While doubts remain about replicating the model in all regions, Emergent Energy and Hackney Council are committed to continuous experimentation. They are exploring innovative ways to utilize excess electricity, such as powering EV charging points for residents. There’s also potential for integrating more technologies, like heat pumps and energy storage, into the microgrids.
“It’s a real test case,” concludes Young. “There are many lessons to be learned from the process. And we plan to take these lessons into the future.”
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