Empowering Todmorden: A Hub for Climate Resilience and Education

The Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub has received a £20,000 grant to enhance its support for the residents of Todmorden, West Yorkshire, through the installation of solar panels and battery storage. This initiative aims to bolster the community's resilience against climate challenges and provide essential services to its most vulnerable members.

Challenges for Todmorden, West Yorkshire Residents

Todmorden, nestled in a steep-sided valley with the River Calder flowing through, has faced increasing flooding in recent years. Storm Arwen particularly impacted the rural community, causing power losses for up to a week. The team recognized that the situation would worsen, especially for vulnerable residents with poor housing, low incomes, disabilities, and other challenges.

Two people stand at the front of a hall during a presentation. One presses a button on a podium. Behind them, a screen shows solar panels and greenery. A banner reads "Northern Powergird Foundation." Attendees are seated and watching.Solution for Todmorden, West Yorkshire Residents

In 2017, local residents aimed to save the College building from demolition and transform it into a community hub and learning centre focused on climate emergency education. The Climate Challenge College was established, offering practical skills training for green economy jobs to local youth, preparing them for Net Zero and sustainable livelihoods. The 1950s building is undergoing renovations to reduce its carbon footprint and eliminate fossil fuel use. Upgrades include natural insulation materials, low-energy lighting and appliances, and the newly installed solar panels for power generation.

Additionally, the College supports vulnerable community members, providing warm spaces during the fuel cost crisis and keeping costs low for user groups. They received funding to install a solar array to generate a large proportion of their daily electricity needs. Additional funding from the Northern Powergrid Foundation enabled them to extend their project to install battery storage, inverters, and cabling to provide critical supplies to distribution boards in parts of the building. This allows the project to use power from their solar installation even when the grid is down, offering warmth, shelter, and communications to those forced to leave their homes or unable to remain in unheated, unlit accommodation.

Pictured: 111th Mayor of Todmorden, Cllr Susan Press and Julie Thorpe from Tod College learning centre and community hub Counting down the ceremonial switch on of the solar Panels

 

 Julie Thorpe, CEO and Centre Manager, expressed gratitude, saying, "We are incredibly thankful for the support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation. This funding will significantly benefit our community, allowing us to provide essential services and support during challenging times. The community hub will be a vital resource for many, offering warmth, shelter, and connectivity when they need it most."

Pictured: Todmorden Tomorrow eventHall with a group of people gathered around tables.

Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation

The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £20,000 donation to contribute to their project. The installation included 21 additional Trina Vertex S 420W PV modules, Victron battery charge controllers and inverters, a Cerbo GX ESS control system, BYD batteries and ancillaries, providing up to 45kW of secure supply with 80kWh of backup, plus direct DC charge from the main array in island mode, along with electrical testing and commissioning.

 

More about the Northern Powergrid Foundation The Northern Powergrid Foundation’s mission, complementing Northern Powergrid’s ambition to be a force for good in the communities it serves, is to support communities most affected by changes in the economy, environment, and society due to the shifting energy landscape. This will be achieved by supporting projects focused on helping to tackle energy resilience during emergency events, vulnerability, fuel poverty, levelling the rural divide, innovation, social support, and community collaboration. Funds are available to support the communities across the North East, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire served by Northern Powergrid.