Forest Community Energy

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Welcome to our new website!

Welcome to our new website!

Grab a cuppa and take a look around. ... * Have a look at our video * Get to know us a little * Learn about our Sling Community Hub project * Find out about Membership - a bargain at just £1! * Read about community ownership of a new solar farm * Discover why we are

An Excellent Event

An Excellent Event

Our drop-in afternoon on Saturday was buzzing! There was real community feeling as people mingled, checked out our smart-home tech displays, discussed solar diverters with Gwent Energy CIC, found out about energy-saving measures and grants with Severn Wye and Evolve Home Energy Solutions, tried out thermal imaging cameras with Forest

It's all about the draughts...

It's all about the draughts...

Thank you Centre for Sustainable Energy for an insightful and engaging training session yesterday - "Understanding Retrofit". It was: - well structured and covered the topic to a sufficiently detailed level...but not too detailed for the audience. - interesting - many attending knew of some elements of

Lightwood Solar Farm

Lightwood Solar Farm

In May 2025 six FCE members attended the public consultation at Awre Parish Hall and met the Eden Renewables team. It was a great opportunity to see the plans in detail and to ask questions about the proposed Lightwood Solar Farm. We were very impressed by the expertise and attention

Forest Showcase Food Festival

Forest Showcase Food Festival

It was a great day at the Forest Showcase Food Festival on Sunday 5th October 2025. We talked to lots of people about community energy projects and home energy savings. We enjoyed the fantastic local food and drink stalls, and the excellent cookery demonstrations. In the "Warm Homes for

We are celebrating!

We are celebrating!

We are delighted to announce that on 1st October 2025 Forest Community Energy CBS Ltd officially became a Community Benefit Society, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Registration number: 9620. This is a great milestone and will allow us to set up a bank account and apply for grants

Free Drop-in Afternoon

Free Drop-in Afternoon

Date and Time: Saturday 25th October 2025 2-4pm Location: The Main Place Coleford, GL16 8RH Would you like to learn how to make your home warm, comfortable and more energy efficient? Come and join us for a fun and informative event to learn all about using thermal imaging cameras and

Future Energy Landscapes

Future Energy Landscapes

Forest Community Energy is supporting a series of three Future Energy Landscapes workshops with Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership (FODCAP) and Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE). The first was in Westbury-on-Severn and Blaisdon, to be followed by Tidenham, and Dymock. An exciting workshop focused on how we can power

Our Re-branding Project

Our Re-branding Project

We ran a brand re-fresh project over two months, gathering feedback and ideas from our members. This was a brilliant collaborative process, creating the Design Brief, two rounds of feedback, choosing the tag-line and presenting the final logo! Lovely work by our local designer Aline Jeffrey. A combination of traditional

FCE Task Group Progress

FCE Task Group Progress

The FCE Task Group has started the registration process for Forest Community Energy to become a Community Benefit Society (CBS). This legal status will enable us to grow and achieve more local community energy projects, helping both people and the environment. We will be registered with the FCA (Financial Conduct

Octopus Energy Tech Summit

Octopus Energy Tech Summit

Helen Jeffrey, Forest Community Energy chair and AURORA Ambassador, had the chance to attend Octopus Energy’s annual Tech Summit in London. This was a fantastic opportunity to learn about tech advancements in the energy sector and bring ideas to the energy community in the Forest of Dean. "The

Sling Community Hub Project

Sling Community Hub Project

We are delighted to report that the Sling Community Hub solar and battery system is live! It has been generating electricity since 20th June 2025 and in the first three weeks 80% of the Hub's electricity was provided by the sun! Thirty-nine solar photovoltaic (PV) panels were installed

Thermal imaging loan service rolled out in the Forest of Dean!

Thermal imaging loan service rolled out in the Forest of Dean!

We’ve been chatting with Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC)’s Retrofit Engagement Officer, Sam Clarke, who has been rolling the scheme out across the district. Here is what he has said about the rollout: What has been the impact of the scheme so far? Receiving thirty thermal imaging

Task Group Is Go!

Task Group Is Go!

Yesterday the Task Group had a very productive session. Emma-Jayne kindly hosted us at the Forest of Dean Council offices in Coleford, with secure wifi and a private meeting space. We set-up, logged-in, emailed, drafted posts and published a newsletter. The new web domain www.forestcommunityenergy.org.uk forwards to

Forest Community Energy is launched!

Forest Community Energy is launched!

In March 2025 Forest Community Energy transitioned from being managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, to become a self-organising group, with a refreshed purpose and focus. Key areas identified for future foucus included community solar, and helping residents reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Chair, Helen Jeffrey said "

Energy in the Forest

Energy in the Forest

Many thanks to the Climate Centre UK for the lovely video they made during the Octopus Energy visit to the Forest of Dean. The day included a tour looking at the challenges and opportunities for cleaner energy here in the Forest. Our visitors from Octopus Energy joined us during our