In 2021-22 Scene conducted a pilot feasibility study into establishing a community energy club for Carluke residents. In a community energy club, small-scale energy assets (e.g. solar PV, battery storage) are bought and installed on a collective basis, on behalf of the community. Energy services are then provided to club members from their pooled generation and demand. The results were promising - the community energy club is capable of delivering equitable community energy alongside wider social and network benefits, with a projected 40% reduction in baseline electricity costs and a 10-year payback period. Scene conducted detailed energy and financial modelling of energy club scenarios and developed governance and legal structures. The work also required in depth engagement with the proposed pilot sites and key stakeholders.
In a connected project, ZUoS collaborated with Scottish Power Energy Networks in 2022 to produce a report detailing the wider commercial case for community energy clubs as part of the Level Up Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) project. Using live energy feed data it ran simulations to test deployment and flexible control scenarios with the objective of benefiting the electricity network.