From Garden Fence Chat to Community Power
A casual conversation over a garden fence in Broughton has sparked a village-wide mission to transform local energy use. It began when Andrew, coordinator of the village’s oil buying group, and Dan, a neighbour with a knack for numbers, realised just how much households were spending and emitting by relying on oil and LPG for heating. With no gas grid in the village, the financial and environmental costs were clear. But rather than just talk, they decided to act.
By May 2024, they had joined forces with other villagers, pooling skills to form Broughton Community Energy. With guidance from Andrew Tolfts of Dragonfly Power, the group set an ambitious vision: “Our village fuelled and powered entirely by sustainable, secure, zero-carbon energy, ensuring affordability and fairness for all.”
The momentum grew quickly. That autumn the steering group worked with Energy South Downs to lead a Future Energy Landscapes workshop, inviting villagers to explore local electricity generation and cleaner heating alternatives. Over fifty residents turned up, sharing ideas on how to break free from fossil fuels.
Now, with a grant from the government’s Community Energy Fund, Broughton is initiating a detailed feasibility study to determine how those ideas might be turned into reality. They recognise that electricity will be even more critical in the future than it is now with heating, transport, and industry dependent on it.
This isn’t just about swapping one energy source for another. It’s about taking control: ensuring Broughton’s energy is affordable, secure, and sustainable, and it all started with a chat over a fence.
Dragonfly Power is proud to support Broughton Community Energy in shaping a greener, fairer future.
If you want to explore community energy solutions for your area, get in touch with Dragonfly Power.
