Rural Decarbonisation Roadmap

Action Description

Durham Community Action (DCA) will work with partners to develop approaches to aid the decarbonisation of rural communities through 2024 which will explore the construction of community-based power and heat assets. This will create a blueprint for further rollout.

Target

feasibility study delivered

Progress Update

DCA successfully applied to the Climate Action Fund, receiving a 4 year award to deliver a range of community energy initiatives in rural County Durham (2024 - 2028). Since August DCA has been developing the County Durham strands of the project including: • Identifying key stakeholders for engagement • Shaping a community decarbonisation framework with Sycamore Net Zero • Identifying and completing initial staff development and training opportunities • Building on strategic connections across County Durham to align programme aims • Supporting RDC to launch a community energy company “Durham Energy Association Limited” (DEAL) at an energy event on 19th March to coincide with Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) Village Halls week and to celebrate the energy efficiency journey of Jubilee Fields Community Centre. 4 community buildings became part of our innovation project to extrapolate key themes around charity and property law with a focus on tenure, leases, and land registry, outlining pathways to resolution and shaping learning resources for other community buildings to help them navigate those challenges.