Last year the Sussex Energy mission was launched, a regional collaboration aiming for Sussex to increase the amount of zero carbon energy generated in Sussex and reduce the amount of energy used, to achieve net zero energy status by 2040. Here is an update, along with a request to take 10 mins to complete a survey to help shape Sussex Energy priorities, an invite to join the Sussex Energy forum and some energy news.
Update
The strength of Sussex Energy is boosting regional collaboration on low carbon energy work. This collaboration allows:
- Efficiencies to be gained from being more joined up e.g. spreading best practice, sharing knowledge, experience and future endeavours.
- Us to be greater than the sum of our parts by; presenting the bigger picture of low carbon energy work in Sussex to build our reputation to attract investment; speaking with one voice with national and regional bodies (e.g. DNOs, DESNZ); and being united on policy to drive change to the region.
- Benefits from economies of scale through aggregating demand to strengthen our procurement power, and to build a pipeline of work giving certainty to build skills and attract suppliers.
Since the launch, a Partner Group with voices from local authorities across Sussex, South Downs National Park Authority, NHS Sussex, Greater South East Net Zero Hub, businesses (through Sussex Chamber), universities and community energy organisations has formed to help shape the regional collaboration and a roadmap to 2040 has been drafted. A 2025 action plan outlines focus areas including:
- Development of a workplan (starting with a survey to understand the challenges to low carbon energy work to inform the workplan and setting up a communications stream).
- Development of a Sussex Energy network for regional collaboration (including the formation of a Sussex Energy Forum)
- Exploring funding.
- Alignment on the development of Environment and Climate Change as a function in a devolved Sussex and Brighton.
See the April update to the Greater Brighton Economic Board for more information.
Survey
Please help in building understanding of the challenges to low carbon energy work in Sussex by taking 10 minutes to complete this survey by Friday 27th June. It’s results will help shape the Sussex Energy priorities.
Sussex Energy Forum
Sussex Energy is setting up a Forum – a community of people working on low carbon energy solutions in Sussex who want to strengthen their connections to accelerate their work and to co-create Sussex Energy. The first meeting of the Forum is being held on Wed July 9th 2-5pm at the University of Sussex. It will focus on building connections and explore the challenges in rolling out low carbon energy work where Sussex Energy could add value. If you would like to participate in this, please register here. It is free but space is limited.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but want to be part of the Forum please fill in this form to keep connected.
Energy News
Helpful Low Carbon Energy Resources
The Greater Brighton website has been updated to include a section on Sussex Energy, including a page to point out to useful resources for Residents, businesses and sustainability professionals.
Sussex Energy – Useful resources – Greater Brighton
For any suggestions of additions / changes please contact greaterbrighton@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Brighton & Hove City Council Net Zero team have recently redesigned their website to provide a useful starting point for property owners, renters, businesses and landlords on making their homes and businesses more energy efficient or installing better insulation, solar panels, or heat pumps. There is also advice about gaining skills in the net zero energy sector and how to become an accredited low carbon energy installer.
Low carbon energy for your home and business.
Solar Across Sussex
The solar carport installation in Crawley’s K2 Crawley Leisure centre car park has been completed and is generating electricity, helping with the ongoing rise in energy costs. In the first
month, the 1,002 panels have generated the equivalent of planting 584 trees, saving 9.6 tonnes of CO2. Crawley Borough Council received £816,500 from the Sport England’s Swimming
Pool Support Fund (SPSF), of which £707k was allocated to the solar carport installation and £109,500 for providing LED lighting improvements in the pool hall and other areas. Additionally, the council invested £250,000 in the project. For more information click here.
Brighton & Hove City Council has identified a site next to the Amex Stadium for a solar farm which could power 1500 homes, with the potential to combine the solar farm with nature
recovery measures to boost biodiversity. The tender for the first stage of the project is complete and the council will progress the project to the planning application stage. South Downs National Park Authority are the planning authority for the site and would need to grant permission to build the project.
Community Energy Pathways awarded the King’s Award for Sustainable Development 2025
Sussex born and bred Community Energy Pathways have recently been awarded the King’s Award for Sustainable Development 2025. The award is received for Community Energy Pathways’ dedication in empowering local communities to swiftly deliver locally owned, low carbon energy, reduce their energy bills and support those people left behind in the energy crisis.
Request for information – Strategic Investment for regional energy planning
Key energy planning stakeholders are invited to submit information on future energy needs to promote growth in local areas as part of the Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) activity. The information provide will help the RESPs to better understand the requirement for investment in electricity distribution networks between 2028 – 2033. For more information click here.
Launching soon…Greater South East Net Zero Hub (GSENZH) Industrial Clusters Decarbonisation Mapping and Tools
GSENZH have been working on mapping industrial clusters in the Greater South East to identify priority sites for decarbonisation. The webinar series here aims to build understanding among local authorities about the options for decarbonising industrial clusters, and awareness of the available data on industrial clusters in the region, and creating a tool to identify the best options for cutting carbon emissions on individual sites (developed in partnership with Opergy Ltd Consultants).