Category Archives: News & Opinions

I recently read an article in the Sunday Times in which a couple were decrying the development of a solar park on the land bordering their 35-acre estate.

Their horses were being frightened by the (temporary) construction noise, and their peace had been further disturbed by the sound of security guards laughing during their rounds. It highlighted a similar tale of woe from another wounded resident who claimed to ‘recognise the importance of green energy’ – until a solar park threatened to impact the view from their bedroom window. Suddenly, saving the planet was not such a high priority.

The article suggested that these anecdotes were evidence that rural homeowners are paying the price for the UK’s pursuit of net zero. While I sympathise with the families featured, I would counter that every single person on the planet will pay the ultimate price if we do not pursue net zero and increasing solar is one of the most cost-effective ways of doing so.… Read the rest

They say you should make hay whilst the sun shines. With the current energy crisis, you are better off making electricity. With this very much in mind, the government’s new ‘Solar Taskforce’ met for the first time last month. This apparently indicating that they are taking solar seriously.

There has been a revolving door of Tory ministers responsible for achieving net zero by 2030. The role has all the gravitas and sincerity of a Holly Willoughby leaving card. Current incumbent Graham Stuart, the minister for energy security and net zero, wants households across the country to do their bit to provide cleaner, cheaper, and more secure energy by installing solar panels on their roofs. In fact, The Guardian recently reported that the number of households installing rooftop solar panels did reach its highest level in more than seven years in the first months of 2023, as sky rocketing energy bills pushed people to consider alternatives.… Read the rest

Our chair, Julian Barlow responds to reports that solar panels just can’t take the heat.

It’s still gloriously sunny here in Wiltshire, with temperatures averaging a solar panel friendly 25 degrees in the county today. After a number of poorly informed tweets from the likes of DUP MP Sammy Wilson and Spectator editor Andrew Neil, which claimed the sun being ‘too hot’ for solar had necessitated the use of coal powered generators, we at WWCE thought now would be a good time to address the myth that solar panels cease to function in the heat.

On Monday (12th June), coal power was used for the first time in 46 days, however ElectricInsights showed that solar still generated around a fifth of the UK’s electricity during the middle part of the day. Having checked GridWatch myself today, it shows that at 11.55am solar was meeting over 25% of the UK’s energy demand and peaked at 29% yesterday lunchtime.… Read the rest

After a winter which has seen household budgets pushed to breaking, people in Wiltshire can at least breathe a sigh of relief that the Chancellor heeded the calls from people’s favourite Martin Lewis to cancel the planned increase in the Energy Price Guarantee.

However, the struggle continues for most as we face double-digit inflation which is simultaneously driving up the cost of essentials like food, as government support for energy bills tapers off.  However, the struggle continues for most as we face double-digit inflation which is simultaneously driving up the cost of essentials like food, as government support for energy bills tapers off.

It’s why we at Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy felt driven to launch our Keeping Warm This Winter initiative, and why we’ve continued to work with local people to better understand how they can insulate their homes to these rising costs.

Despite the welcome U-turn, energy bills are still calculated to rise by £285 a year for the coming financial year 2023/24, which makes the obscene levels of profit that we’re seeing from petrochemical giants increasingly difficult to swallow.… Read the rest

Two Wiltshire primary schools are to embark on new projects promoting biodiversity and environmental studies thanks to grants from Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy.

Shaw Ridge Primary in Swindon and Holbrook Primary in Trowbridge were both successful in their applications for financial support from our charitable Community Fund.

Holbrook Primary has been awarded £1,235 which will go towards the construction of a new pond and a dedicated outdoor learning area, where students will have the opportunity to explore and study the environment. This is the second scheme at the school to be funded by WWCE, having previously received £5,000 to develop a new garden space on the school field, led by a therapeutic gardener.

Meanwhile, Shaw Ridge Primary’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has received £1,050 to pay for two wildlife cameras, hedgehog houses, and a bat detector so that the volunteer-run group can monitor and increase biodiversity at its newly created ‘unity eco-garden’.… Read the rest

One of Wiltshire’s’ largest not-for-profit energy enterprises, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy Limited, has appointed a new Chairperson to run the Solar energy business with a remit to grow and develop the organisation.

Julian Barlow, who lives in Compton Bassett, takes up the role this month. Julian is also a Trustee of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and a local Parish Councillor and has a background in Marketing as well as having worked as a commentator on the built environment for over 30 years. He has been brought in to Chair WWCE with the aim of not only increasing the wildlife and diversity around the solar farms but also launching a new carbon reduction initiative aimed at working with home owners in Wiltshire, helping them to improve home insulation, gain access to government grants and spend less on energy.

The not for profit community benefit society currently owns two Solar Farms based at Chelworth and Braydon Manor near Swindon, supporting the energy requirements for over 2000 homes as well as developing habitats for Bees, Owls, flora and fauna as well as other wildlife.… Read the rest