Amy Lee

Despite the fact that renewable energy comes from nature and we see natural resource as a free service, our material economy system leaves us no choice, other than to buy and consume. Despite the good-will in solving the problems of climate change, it creates social inequality and as such, energy inequality. People with disposable incomes who can afford renewable energy are better protected from fuel prices, and can access cheaper energy compared to poorer households.

For clean energy to become a reality, we need society to work together, which means that renewable energy should be driven by local communities for their collective benefit.

For my project, I have developed a financial service proposition to inspire energy sharing within communities. Creating an ideal financial model for a smart grid-based support and creating engaging ways for households to take part in a new concept of localised energy sharing.

This financial service platform leads to an ideal form of community sharing, reducing both social and energy inequality in the community. It's also used by the community as a way to decentralise power, allowing communities to take ownership and capture value from the system.