We’re excited to invite you to take part in an innovative project that could change the way we think about energy in Lancashire. We’re exploring the concept of a Social Virtual Power Plant (SVPP), and we need your input to help us shape it!
What is a Social Virtual Power Plant (SVPP)?
A Virtual Power Plant is a new way of using local energy resources to provide cleaner, more sustainable power to homes, businesses, and communities. Unlike traditional power plants, which are large and centralised, a Virtual Power Plant is made up of many smaller energy sources—such as solar panels, wind turbines, and home batteries—from across a local area. The Virtual Power Plant uses clever software to combine these into one virtual network to supply power to the grid, balance energy use, and support local energy needs.
Virtual Power Plants already exist on a ‘for profit’ basis, but we want to go one stage further and create a Social Virtual Power Plant that is owned by the community and which provides benefits back to that community in the form of reduced bills and greater energy security. The goal is to make energy more sustainable, reliable, and affordable by using locally generated energy more efficiently.
Why Should You Get Involved?
Right now, we’re at the very beginning stages of this project, and we’re looking for residents and businesses of Lancashire to share their thoughts and help us understand the potential of a Social Virtual Power Plant in our area. This is your chance to have your say on how this idea could work and what it could mean for you, your home, your business, and your community.
How can you take part?
Taking part in this study is simple! All we ask is for a few minutes of your time to answer some quick questions about your home and how you feel about the idea of a Social Virtual Power Plant. Your answers will help us understand the local community’s readiness and thoughts on the potential of this new concept.
What’s involved?
- Answer a few questions about your home or business’s energy use.
- Sharing your thoughts on renewable energy, local power generation, and community-based energy projects.
- Tell us about any challenges or opportunities you think a Social Virtual Power Plant could bring to you and your neighbourhood.
Your feedback will play a crucial role in helping us understand how best to bring a Social Virtual Power Plant to life in Lancashire. We want to ensure it meets the needs of residents and has a positive impact on our environment and energy system.
Get involved now by answering our questions, and let us know what you think. Together, we can help pave the way to a greener, more sustainable future for Lancashire.
We can’t wait to hear from you! Let’s work together to create a future where our energy is cleaner, smarter, and more community-driven.