In 2024/25 Scene undertook a Community Energy Fund Phase 1 feasibility study on behalf of Crick Parish Council. The study investigated options for a low carbon energy system in the parish of Crick, West Northamptonshire, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs for domestic and non domestic properties in the area.
With Crick home to industrial parks and a freight terminal, our baseline energy assessment confirmed the large role of industrial buildings and warehouses in the area's carbon footprint, representing 67% of Crick's carbon emissions. Scene therefore appraised the technical and financial viability of a community investment scheme in non-domestic rooftop solar. Scene recommended a suitable scalable business case whereby the community entity owns and installs solar panels and sells power to the building owner via a PPA, generating income for the community that can be reinvested into local sustainablity projects..
Scene also recommeded community-led programmes to improve the domestic uptake of air-source heat pumps, rooftop solar, and energy effiency upgrades, providing alternative scenarios - low ambition, moderate ambition, and high ambition - responsive to the funding and resource capacity of the local commuinity.