Low Carbon Hub in Oxford is one of the most important community energy organisations in the UK. It's poised to start a revolution in the way we develop and use our energy.

Jonathon Porritt CBE

Co-Founder, Forum for the Future

About Us

The Low Carbon Hub is a social enterprise that’s out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet.

The days of fossil fuels are numbered. The shift to renewable generation is gaining pace and gives us the opportunity to reshape the way we manage our energy.

We are calling for the creation of a new energy system that:

  • has renewable generation and energy efficiency at its heart, reducing carbon emissions
  • makes the money we spend on energy work harder for the benefit of our communities and strengthening the local economy
  • supports the creation of more locally-owned community energy projects, putting local power in the hands of local people
  • makes our homes, businesses, and community buildings more healthy and comfortable
  • is smart and flexible so as to be able to make the most of future technological solutions.

We develop community-owned renewable energy in Oxfordshire

We do this in partnership with schools, businesses and community groups, at no cost to our partners.

We raise money to build these projects through community share offers.

To make these projects happen we offer people the opportunity to invest in us directly so their money can help consign fossil fuels to history

We re-invest 100% of our own surplus in our mission.

We donate all of our surpluses to support further local carbon-cutting initiatives across Oxfordshire.

We are a hub, a helpdesk and a mentor for local community groups.

We offer practical support to groups who want to set up their own renewables or energy saving projects. Find out more about our helpdesk here!

​We run pathfinding innovation pilots.

To help the community energy sector in Oxfordshire expand more rapidly, we bring together people who can break through obstacles like grid constraints or technology gaps.

We collaborate with our local councils.

Local government is a major driver of community energy around the world. We work closely with our local councils to identify opportunities for renewable energy generation and demand reduction in Oxfordshire.

Our vision

Each year, Oxfordshire spends £1.5 billion on energy. By encouraging energy efficiency, increasing local energy generation, supporting the shift to electric transport and championing community ownership, Low Carbon Hub is ensuring that more of this money stays local. In the process, we are creating a better energy template for not just Oxfordshire but the whole of the UK.

AWARDS

We are proud winners of the UK Ashden Award for Sustainable Communities -- the world's leading green energy award.

Project impacts to date

  • 38 Renewable energy installations
  • 1562 tonnes of CO2 saved every year
  • 4.2 GWh of potential clean energy generation a year
  • £1.6 M lifetime anticipated savings on electricty bills by hosts
  • £2.4 M lifetime anticipated community benefit donation to Oxfordshire communities
Low Carbon Hub has an extremely compelling vision for the rivers and rooftops of Oxfordshire to be the power stations of the future, delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for residents.

Ashden Award Judges, Announcing Low Carbon Hub's Ashden Award for Sustainable Communities

The Team

Barbara Hammond, MBE, CEO

From 2000 until 2010, Dr Barbara Hammond was in Government, heading up the UK’s renewable energy programme. During this time she set up the first capital grants programmes to support renewable energy technologies. Prior to this she worked with Sir David King to help influence international partners on climate change in the run up to the UK presidency of the G8 and the EU in 2005.

Since 2008 Barbara has been involved in community energy groups in her own neighbourhood, helping to bring projects like Osney Lock Hydro and Matthew Arnold School’s solar PV project to fruition. In 2010, Oxford City Council asked Barbara to explore the potential for growing community-led energy through social enterprise. This became the Low Carbon Hub which was launched in December 2011.

She was awarded an MBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List for services to community energy development, particularly in Oxfordshire.

The Projects Team

The team of experts at Low Carbon Hub bring with them vast and varied experience, in international project development, renewables, energy efficiency and community energy management and technologies.

All of them are also involved in small-scale renewables and climate change projects in their own communities.

The Board

Most members of the Board have been working together on community projects for many years. Read more about our Board of Directors.

  • Barbara Hammond Ceo Low Carbon Hub Team 500

    Barbara Hammond MBE

  • Adraino Figueiredo Operations Director Low Carbon Hub Team 500

    Adriano Figueiredo

  • Rachel Boyes Watson Chief Operating Officer

    Rachel Boyes-Watson

  • Saskya Huggins Copy

    Saskya Huggins

  • 12 Staff A

    Tom Heel

  • Img 20170906 123705

    Alison Grunewald

  • Beth Mc Allister

    Beth McAllister

  • Img 0027

    Mark Coles

  • James Ochiltree Projects Executive Low Carbon Hub Team 500

    James Ochiltree

  • Harry Orchard Photo

    Harry Orchard

  • Img 2660

    Catherine Ryan

  • Zoe

    Zoe Toone

  • Kat Luddecke 2

    Kat Luddecke

What is community energy?

A MUCH BETTER ENERGY SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE, FOR OXFORDSHIRE AND THE UK

If we want a renewable energy future in the UK -- and specifically one that is developed for the benefit of local economies and communities -- we can have one, but we will need to stand up for it, together.

In our new Low Carbon Hub Community Energy Manifesto we set out what community energy means for us and why we think it is a fundamentally important part of the UK's national energy transition.

We are feeling very optimistic that many of the components of the new system we have been dreaming of are now either there or within our grasp.

We look forward to working with you to make it happen.

Low Carbon Hub Community Energy Manifesto
Low Carbon Hub Community Energy Manifesto
Download now
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