Community Energy
Community energy is energy generated, shared and used by a neighbourhood.
Screening of Power Station
6:30pm-9:30pm on Monday 23 March
Department of Engineering, Trumpington Street, CB2 1PZ
Pre-screening community meal 6:30pm-7:15pm Film plus Q&A 7:15pm- 9:30pm Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell’s masterpiece ‘Power Station’ film documentary about their neighbourhood solar project provides tips on how to bring solar to your own neighbourhood.
A vibrant community-led initiative is transforming a Walthamstow street, bringing the power of solar PV to everyone—from social housing residents and owner-occupiers to the local primary school. Born from inspiring lockdown solidarity and fuelled by creative, 'madcap' fundraising schemes, proving that sustainable energy can be a colourful, communal celebration.
This is a powerful social documentary of life in our times, charting the emotional ups and downs of herding cats and dealing with financial woes, with echoes of Ealing Comedy.
The Q&A panel will include local MP Katie Thornborough, Tom Cox of Decent Energy and Andy Rankin, Midsummer Energy Founder. Join us for a light meal before the screening and a chance to meet Cambridgeshire community groups for more information on how you can engage in a solar project in your neighbourhood.
Lead hosts: Cambridge Retrofit Hub & Centre for Climate Repair Co-hosts: Cambridge Zero, Transition Cambridge Energy Group, Green Heat and Cambridge Carbon Footprint.
“I can’t recommend this film enough. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll kickstart a community-led renewable energy revolution.I will say, without any sense of exaggeration or hyperbole, that this is one of the most important films ever made. Everyone needs to see it.”
Sunflowers feature in the Power Station film.
We wanted to share sunflower seeds with you to grow your interest in Community Energy.
Helianthus annuus
This Giant Yellow Single which produces a large flower that is filled with Sunflower Seed. It grows to 200 to 300 cm high. It makes an attractive focal point and gives lovely seeds to eat or leave out for the birds over winter.
Easy to grow sunflowers from seed
Sunflowers can be sown directly in final location or in pots.
Sow seeds individually in pots about 3cm deep. Keep in a warm spot and water regularly. The best time to sow is from late April to Mid May. Harden the seedlings off before planting outside. They need to be about 50cm - 100cm between plants. Be aware of slugs and snails which will quickly make a meal of the young plants. Stake the plants as they grow up to 3m tall. The stunning flowers are the perfect garden statement!
Six evenings exploring how our city is being affected by the climate crisis
All the information presented during the six evenings is being compiled into a report, which will be presented to the public on May 28th.
On Thursday March 12th, we covered energy dependency and the challenges that Cambridge faces with deploying community energy systems.
Speakers:
Sheryl French, Cambridge Climate Ltd
Tom Cox, Decent Energy
Paul Kershaw, Cambridge Retrofit Hub