Net Zero Terrace Streets Project Wins Energy Innovation Award 2024
Rossendale Valley Energy (RVE) and its partners have been awarded the prestigious Energy Innovation Award 2024 by Utility Week for their collaborative and innovative approach to delivering low-carbon domestic heating.
Actor Richard E Grant presented the award during a ceremony celebrating trailblazing achievements in the energy sector.
Kate Gilmartin, volunteer director at Rossendale Valley Energy, expressed her delight at the recognition, saying:
“This endorses our community-based approach to tackling decarbonisation of heat in a collaborative, whole-systems approach.
“Being able to offer owner-occupiers and private landlords a scheme that eliminates the need for up-front costs has to be a route forward for people already living on tight budgets.
“We are already working with other community groups across Lancashire and beyond, with the intention that this scheme can be replicated elsewhere.”
The judges commended RVE for their clear understanding of the challenges in decarbonising domestic heating for small terraced homes. These properties often have solid stone walls, some dating back two centuries, and are typically characterised by their lack of rear yards and proximity to pavements.
The Net Zero Terrace Streets initiative demonstrates how to decarbonise an entire terraced street by implementing a Smart Local Energy System (SLES) that is integrated with the network, optimised for affordability, and easily replicable across Great Britain. The scheme includes extensive insulation, ambient temperature ground source heat pumps, and solar panels. Together, these measures aim to provide healthy, warm homes powered by low-carbon energy—all without requiring up-front costs from householders.
Helen Seagrave, Community Energy Manager at Electricity North West, celebrated the achievement, stating:
“We’re absolutely delighted that Net Zero Terrace has been recognised with a prestigious award.
“We operate one of the most digital electricity networks in the world and, across the North West, we’re seeing increased uptake as more people use technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles.
“The project has a significant benefit to our customers and will undoubtedly continue to deliver value for years to come.”
The judges further applauded RVE’s determination to develop a community-focused strategy that provides not only a technical solution but also a financial model designed to attract long-term capital investment.
RVE’s innovative use of the Community Benefit Society model ensures that any operational surplus is reinvested into the local community.
RVE is part of a wider collaborative partnership involving Electricity North West (ENWL), the Centre for Energy Equality (CEE), Buro Happold, and other organisations. Together, they aim to deliver an integrated package that takes a whole-systems approach, including a whole-house retrofit to improve energy efficiency so that heat and hot water can be supplied efficiently by a 6kW ground source heat pump (GSHP). This will be supported by a Smart Local Energy System (SLES) and community-owned rooftop solar panels, further reducing operational costs for residents.
