Sheffield Renewables was established to develop and operate community owned renewable energy projects in the Sheffield area. We aim to harness local enthusiasm, knowledge and skills by creating an energetic and committed social enterprise. The organisation is built on local participation through our volunteer, support, invest model. We have a strong volunteer ethos, and benefit enormously from the work of our many volunteers. We have also built a broad base of support from local organisations and individuals. Our projects will be funded in large part by community investment, offering an ethical investment opportunity that gives modest financial returns coupled to wider benefits.
 
Aims and Objectives
Our aim is to develop schemes in a way which brings benefits to the environment, the city and its people. In so doing we aim to demonstrate a business model for community renewable energy in urban areas. Our immediate objectives to achieve this are:

1) To deliver a community owned hydro power scheme that provides significant and cost effective carbon savings;
2) To operate the scheme and sell electricity, providing a revenue stream to seed fund further projects;
3) To use the project as a vehicle to work with our investors, and the wider public, to promote and facilitate sustainable lifestyle choices;

Progress
Our “Pioneer Share Offer” held in December 2009 raised £12k from our volunteers and stakeholders, which will contribute towards the development costs of our projects. Feasibility studies have now been completed for hydro electric projects at two sites, Jordan Dam and Kelham Island, both on the River Don. Planning applications for these projects are now in preparation, and are expected to be submitted in October 2010. We plan to run a share offer to the public in February 2011, ready to begin work on the Jordan Dam project in the summer.

Mark Wells, Business and Funding Director said: “With planning applications for our hydro projects just round the corner, we are within reach of Sheffield’s first community owned renewable energy schemes.”