The AURORA project in the Forest of Dean
The AURORA project is an innovative project working alongside talented partners in universities in Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Denmark and Germany.
Working with colleagues doing the same thing in other countries, we can learn from each other and share skills and experiences.
The project will raise awareness of personal energy use from transport and home electricity and heating. Part of the project is to launch an energy awareness app which will show you your individual carbon footprint. It will also show you how you can reduce energy consumption. Reducing carbon emissions will help tackle the climate emergency and will also help you to save money. The app is currently being developed and will be available early next year.
Forest Energy Community Initiative is about people joining together to generate and use energy differently in the Forest of Dean. The project will see solar photovoltaic panels generating at least 200 kW of renewable energy, installed in the Forest of Dean district. The project is exploring potential opportunities for the solar panels to be put on a public or community asset building so that the reduced cost energy helps keep that community asset viable in the long term whilst general operating costs increase.
As well as generating renewable energy, what’s great about this project is the solar installation itself will be owned by everyone who wants to buy a share, via a community shares offer. You will be able to get involved in a number of ways. For example as an individual or as an organisation, you will be able to buy a single or multiple shares. For this community solar project you will also be able to get involved in deciding how this is set up and how it is managed. You will also be able to shape ideas for further community energy schemes in the Forest of Dean.
