The Norham Renewable Energy Project is a potential community development promoted by Norham Development Trust Ltd.
Norham Development Trust Limited (NDT)
The formation of NDT came as result of the Parish Council and Norham Church sharing a desire to maintain and develop the community infrastructure. There were discussions and public meetings facilitated by Northumberland County Council which resulted in the formation of Norham Community Group (NCG). NCG meets monthly with representatives from many of the community activities which benefit the residents of Norham Parish.
Arising from this group was the need for a vehicle to take forward larger initiatives. To address this need NDT was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee in February 2019. Its objectives are ‘To promote for the public benefit regeneration in the village of Norham and the surrounding areas, through a range of activity including (though not exclusively) supporting community services and facilities, the preservation of buildings or sites and the provision of recreational facilities’.
NDT is owned by its members and managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. NDT work with other organisations and individuals on projects of various kinds to improve the quality of life in the Norham area, now and for future generations.
Directors: George Straughen (chair), Jim Greenwood (treasurer), Victoria Craig, Janet Young and William Jackson
Directors: George Straughen (chair), Jim Greenwood (treasurer), Victoria Craig, Janet Young and William Jackson
Companies House link: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11810879
Greencat Renewables Ltd
Green Cat Renewables Ltd (GCR) are engaged by NDT to advise the board and deliver services in relation to the community renewable energy project.
https://www.greencatrenewables.co.uk
The Community Renewable Project
In the spring of 2021, it was decided to seek funding to undertake a feasibility study of the renewable energy options open to the community. The main drivers of the study were to identify potential projects that can assist the local parish in decarbonisation, as well as the potential to generate revenue for the local community though the development of renewable projects and potentially offset electricity use in public buildings such as the village hall. Funding for the initial study was provided by RCEF.
The study recommended that the best prospect was a modest commercial development of a single wind turbine (generation capacity of 0.9MW Model EWT DW54) and a solar array (capacity of 8.9MW consisting of approximately 25,500 panels), giving a total generating capacity of 9.8MW, situated 700m south of Norham. The plan to fund capital costs is to explore a mix of unsecured bonds, community shares and commercial borrowing with as little involvement from a development operator as possible. We have had an encouraging, exploratory meeting with Thrive Renewables, thanks to an introduction from Community Energy South.
The site landowners have signed a 2-year Exclusivity Agreement and are very supportive.
Together with our consultants (GCR) and the Climate Change Team at Northumberland County Council (NCC) we have held several community briefing meetings to outline our plans and these were all extremely well received.
Our consultants submitted a pre-planning application to NCC receiving encouraging and detailed responses. Financial and general assistance has been received from the Climate Change Team within NCC and Berwick Community Trust. Grant assistance from RCEF. The grants received have enabled the submission of a scoping report, based on the responses to the pre-planning application, prior to a full planning permission application. A grid connection application with Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) was made and an offer was received which NDT were able to accept, and pay the acceptance fee, thanks to funding from the Energy Project Enabling Fund.
Community Energy South have provided invaluable assistance, support, and guidance, as has our Member of Parliament and Local councillor. We have now been successful in obtaining funding from the Community Energy Fund which will enable us to finalise a full planning application and explore the financial and business model required to deliver the project.
- The contents of the flier which we propose to circulate on Monday.
- Slides from the screens from last night (downloadable .pdfs)
- I could put up the GC Feasibility report as a file. Are we happy to put it in the public domain? I suggest not the financial models.
- A little information about GCR?