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net zero insights energy transition

11 May 2022

Episode #5
Reclaiming energy: the changing relationship between people and power

Could the future energy system be owned and shaped by ordinary people? What does 'community energy' look like in the digital age?

You can't own a bit of a coal station or a bit of a nuclear station or a gas station, but one of the amazing things about renewables is you absolutely can own a little bit of a wind farm or a little bit of a solar park to meet your electricity requirements. ”

Sarah Merrick, co-Founder and CEO, Ripple

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, Lucy and Giles find out how digital technologies are providing new opportunities for people to source clean energy – and invest in the green infrastructure of the future.

As energy and gas prices rise, people are turning to different models to source their energy requirements. We look at the progress of community energy projects over the last decade and the opportunity that digital platforms offer for those who want to own part of a clean energy generating assets. Are organisations like Ripple and Abundance Investment giving ordinary people the opportunity to shape and invest in the energy infrastructure of tomorrow?

We speak to Agamemnon Otero from Energy Gardens, Sarah Merrick from Ripple Energy, and Louise Wilson from Abundance Investment.

Check out all the episodes from season one here.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Agamemnon Otero

Agamemnon Otero
Director & CEO, Energy Gardens

Agamemnon is Director & CEO of Energy Garden, Co-CEO of Repowering London, and Director of the three Brixton Energy Solar cooperatives. He co-founded industry advocacy body Community Energy England and advised the UK government on community energy policy. In 2014, he was made a London Leader; in 2016, he was awarded an MBE for services to community energy; and in 2017, he was named one of the 51 Most Impactful Green Leaders globally by CSR Congress. Previously, he was Director for Renewable Energy Project Finance and Social Responsibility at a financial institution.

Sarah Merrick

Sarah Merrick
CEO & Founder, Ripple Energy

Sarah is Founder and CEO of Ripple. She set up Ripple to bring clean energy ownership into the mainstream. Sarah was frustrated that big companies could access low cost clean energy direct, but people couldn't. She has worked in the wind energy industry for 18 years. Prior to setting up Ripple she was Head of Public Affairs for Vestas, the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer. Alongside her day job she was vice-chair of RenewableUK, the UK's trade body for wind and marine energy.

Louise Wilson

Louise Wilson
MD, Abundance Investment

Louise co-founded Abundance and manages the Projects team, giving issuers valuable professional support at every stage of an investment and developing her team members. Louise spent over 15 years at UBS Investment Bank and was responsible for structuring multi million pound flotations and share sales across several global regions. In the end she questioned why traditional markets don’t serve the ordinary investor and left to pursue a new degree and finding a way to build a fair society and while generating a decent return. Louise is on the Advisory Board for the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment at Imperial College Business School.

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