In July 2015, CPRE held a workshop for community representatives − the majority from rural areas − to provide a practical introduction to community energy and help them to initiate and get involved in community energy projects. You can download the workshop presentations to print below.

Generating energy is at the heart of human society. The relationship between humans and energy has shaped our landscapes for centuries, if not millennia.

We are in the midst of a massive shift in our energy system driven by technological innovation and the imperative to tackle climate change. Just a few years ago electricity was generated by 50 large power stations. Today we are approaching 1 million distributed electricity generators in the UK. 

We need to better understand what impact this changing energy system will have on the landscape and how energy infrastructure can be built in the right way and in the right locations to gain support from communities across the UK.

The study considers how varying 2030 future energy scenarios, consistent with the UK’s commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement, might affect both the physical features that combine to create a landscape and understanding of how humans perceive and assign a cultural value to the landscape; and, therefore, how they respond to change.

Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have joined forces to produce this 'Future Energy Landscapes' report. It aims to bring communities together to share their passion for local landscapes with their enthusiasm for a more sustainable future.

This guide gives an overview of community based renewable energy options for rural community groups, local councils and individuals. It provides a starting point and signposts more detailed sources of advice, information and help for rural communities to get generating and take the next step in planning and delivering their own renewable energy developments.

Our analysis of the evidence indicates the Government’s changes to, and interventions in, the renewable energy planning system since summer 2013 have clearly reduced the proportion of solar farm and onshore wind projects receiving planning approval. This has helped reduce the associated landscape impacts and other local effects. However, our analysis also suggests that the jury is still out on whether the planning policy changes have achieved a better long-term balance between local environmental protection and producing low-carbon energy.

From the analysis set out in this report, CPRE make recommendations on the need for clear guidance for decision makers and a strategic, plan-led approach to developing renewable energy infrastructure which addresses cumulative impacts on landscape. We would also like to see brownfield land unsuitable for housing being used for solar farms in preference to greenfield sites, and the subsidy regime should be used to encourage this. We also need to overcome major barriers to the extensive use of commercial roofspace for solar electricity.

Find out more
Better planning needed on renewable energy to protect the countryside
Give your view: Making better use of brownfield land for renewable energy

This report, and the research underpinning it, sheds new light on the scale of the energy problems we face and the solutions needed to tackle them. It explores the current realities of greening rural homes and community buildings. This report also considers how we can make the necessary cuts in carbon from housing and what this might mean for the countryside.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) commissioned Cambridge Architectural Research and Anglia Ruskin University to conduct research to fill a key gap in knowledge.