ScottishPower Energy Networks helps us to monitor our energy use

Residents of Ashton Hayes can now see how much energy the village is using thanks to an innovative monitoring system installed around the village by our technical supporter, ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN). The company has set up a web portal that will soon be giving us detailed data on electricity use across the community. The initial site is currently fairly brief but over the next couple of weeks we should be in a position to upload the community reports for October, November, December and January. The aim of the research will help SPEN see the impact that PV panels, electric cars and other renewables have on their network and help the community plan for the future.

Village wins LEAF grant from DECC

We are delighted to have been selected by DECC for funding under its LEAF programme. Well done to all the team especially Dr Mary Gillie and Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company. Thanks to the community shop and Parish Council and all who supported our bid. For more click here

Opening of new classrooms and PV at the Primary School

Children line up quietly and wait for Chester Mayor Eleanor Johnson (in red) to open the new low carbon classrooms built with CWAC funding and PV panels provided by the community. The school gets free green electricity when open with the village Community Power Company generating revenue from the surplus.

PV panels popular in the village

People across the village are taking advantage of the Feed in Tariffs and installing impressive PV arrays. Martin (left) & Jane Colville selected a 'black pinstripe' design for their array and are pleased with the generation and happy to 'do their bit' to make Ashton Hayes a more sustainable village. The Savil family have installed PVs on the barns (right)

The newly created Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company has also registered the PV arrays on the low carbon pavilion and primary school roofs and will use the FiTs income to invest in more sustainability projects in the village.

The community car - a video update

Thanks to the hard work of Greg Ambrose and Tom Ellis we are getting more sign ups to our community electric car, a Nissan Leaf. They have done a series of promotions around Ashton Hayes. But we still need more customers! Here is a video they have kindly made to explain our difficulties. Well done guys.