Electricity North West is on the hunt for a group or organisation to help develop community energy in Carlisle as part of its pledge to lead the North West to Net Zero. 

The region’s power network operator is looking to work with a community energy group who will own and manage a new solar panel system being installed at its Nelson Street depot.

Once developed, the group or organisation will finance, own and operate the panels for the lifetime of the installation and any profits generated can be invested for the social or environmental benefit of the community. 

Helen Seagrave, community energy manager at Electricity North West, said: “We work hard to support community energy groups who want to generate their own low carbon electricity and this is a new way of doing things for the benefit of the community.

 “We’ve now got a unique opportunity for a local group to own and operate a solar installation at our depot.

“This will be the first time we’ve done anything like this in the North West and if it’s a success then it’s something that we’ll look to roll out across the region.”

The new system is a first for the network operator as it looks to continue rolling out more innovative opportunities in Cumbria and the rest of the North West as it leads the way to Net Zero.

Once a group has been chosen, Electricity North West will enter into an agreement to purchase as much of the solar energy as the site requires for the lifetime of the panels. 

The aim is to show how community owned solar can help contribute towards reducing a company’s carbon footprint with limited capital outlay.

For more information or to register interest email communityandlocalenergy@enwl.co.uk.