Project update: CAIRN Partnership - Durham Energy Association Limited
Since the Rural Design Centre helped to establish the CAIRN partnership in autumn 2024, DEAL has been on an exciting journey to prove that community energy can thrive where it’s needed most.
A not-for-profit initiative
Durham Energy Association Ltd (DEAL) is a not-for-profit initiative helping to deliver sustainable, reliable energy to community spaces across County Durham. The spaces serve as vital hubs across County Durham, and trustees are keen to share our motivation to reduce bills.
DEAL focuses on installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage systems on community spaces, aiming to cut energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and strengthen the long-term resilience of these vital buildings.
Community buildings leading the way in County Durham
Community energy in the UK first developed in places where early adopters, often people with technical experience and the capacity to volunteer, could get projects off the ground. It’s refreshing to see local community buildings leading the way here in County Durham, showing how the movement is expanding and becoming more representative of the communities it aims to serve.
Bringing stakeholders together to form an advisory group
After launching in March, we’ve focused on building the model and bringing stakeholders together in collaboration with our partners, Durham Community Action. We formed an advisory group of community members with diverse expertise and with the help of Co-operatives UK, we’re finalising a set of model rules to formally establish DEAL as a Community Benefit Society (CBS), providing a strong governance framework and ensuring transparency and best practice.
Rural Design Centre’s Hilary bringing the community together.
Next steps: feasibility studies
To estimate the overall payback periods of the equipment for the cooperative, desk-based surveys have been completed for the initial buildings interested in joining DEAL. We have successfully secured a GB Energy Grant via our partners at the North East & North Yorkshire Hub, which will allow us to conduct the first 15 feasibility studies and get the programme firmly off the ground. These studies, as well as the governance framework will be completed by summer 2026, enabling us to progress to implementation and providing a robust evidence base to seek further grant funding or explore capital-raising avenues.
Based in Durham and want to get involved in community energy?
If this interests you and your County Durham community space, we’d love to hear from you to discuss your specific circumstances.
We can provide a tailored assessment of your building to estimate the number of panels and batteries needed, ensuring systems are designed to meet your specific needs, helping you save money and operate more sustainably.