Stroud Area Community Energy Network (SACEN)

A group to stimulate and facilitate community energy projects in the Stroud area
Working alongside Gloucestershire Community Energy Cooperative and Nailsworth CAN
Become a SACEN Associate Member to get support for projects in your community

Who is SACEN?

A group of experts and enthusiasts held a community energy event on September 28th 2023 in Stroud. The aim was to look at current levels of activity on this in the Stroud area and start to plan how we can increase it. Expert speaker sessions explored different funding and ownership models, as well as solar PV, wind, or water turbine options. These were followed by a discussion and Q&A aimed at identifying opportunities and barriers, with substantial audience participation.

The need for planning permission changes and community engagement were identified as two key areas of focus, alongside public ownership, and benefits for local people. There was a call to mobilise quickly around a suitable project to create momentum. Full meeting notes here

Photos by Gill @Mouse About Town

In 2024 SACEN formally affiliated with Transition Stroud, and launched as a working group dedicated to improving the number and impact of community energy projects for the Stroud area. Through 2024 the group met once a month to hear from neighbouring experts, gather information, and make some concrete plans.

In 2025 we adopted a formal constitution and launched a new Associate Membership offer – your chance to get involved in supporting energy projects that benefit your community.

What is community energy and what are its benefits?

“Community energy refers to the delivery of community-led renewable energy, energy demand reduction and energy supply projects, whether wholly owned and/or controlled by communities or through a partnership with commercial or public sector partners.” Definition from Community Energy England.

It generates local cheaper and cleaner energy and helps build local support for action on net zero. Current schemes across the South West are delivering this plus community funds which are being used for example to retrofit homes.

Local examples of this are Minchinhampton School and Hub where Gloucestershire Community Energy Coop has installed solar PV funded by local shareholders. In effect they have leased the roofs to GCEC, and their buildings are getting cheaper electricity, which is locally produced and funded.

What’s next?

SACEN are working with the Climate Action Networks as well as local parish and town councils to identify local projects to develop across the Stroud area in collaboration with the energy agency SWEA. We are also reaching out to other community energy projects across Gloucestershire and the wider South West area to help with our learning.

Community energy projects are famously hard to get off the ground – read this great summary from Andy O’Brien at Bristol Energy Cooperative on why it’s so difficult, and what is being done to change that.

If you want to get involved to help us make a difference locally, then contact us through the SACEN Associate Membership form to get support for potential projects in your community. If you’re not sure what kind of project might be viable, take a look at GCEC’s guide to identifying good potential buildings for projects.