A number of community buildings, including church buildings, could be fitted with solar panels. Credit: Hywel Williams

The village of Elham is hoping to progress in a compeition where the successful bids will receive grants towards renewable energy sources. The Elham Environment Group has submitted proposals for solar panels to be placed onto community buildings.

Eco-minded villagers are hoping to take a step closer to a share of £500,000 so they can power their village with solar panels.

The Elham Environment Group (EEG) has submitted a bid into the Energyshare competition, which will award projects across the country with cash to install and develop renewable energy supplies.

The EEG’s latest campaign to save energy and money would see a number of the community buildings in the village, including he school and the church, fitted with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, converting the Sun’s radiation directly into electricity.

The low carbon group, which started six years ago, is hoping to progress through the competition, which is being backed by British gas and TV’s River Cottage.

EEG member Paul Bright said: “We heard about the energyshare scheme through Action with Communities in Rural England, who sent us an email about it, telling us that up to a £100,000 in grants were available.

“We are looking at putting solar panels on the community buildings and the school has shown a great interest in solar energy, and it would be one of a number of buildings, that could be fitted with them.”

If the village progress through the first round, the next step would be to produce a more detailed proposal, before a final selection of 30 schemes will then be put forward to the public vote.

The EEG has also been looking at other ways to reduce the carbon footprint of Elham village, introducing a number of initiatives.

Mr Bright added: “Elham has no mains gas supply, so people rely on oil, Calor gas or wood burning stoves.

“We started up a fuel club where people gave us their orders so we could negotiate the best price for the oil and it also reduced the number of tankers visiting the village.

“We have given people information on what can be recycled and where and we offer advice on energy saving in the home.

“We have done some tree planting and we are also looking to get some land set aside for some local allotments; we try to cover as many aspects as possible.

“A lot of people are looking at their oil bills going up and up every few months, and with the financial support available for renewables, not only do you get free electricity, you get payments from the feedback tariffs too.

“The combination makes it good for the community and good the planet and presents an attractive option for people.”

Protect Kent, who have been working closely with the EEG, believe that the village is a guiding light for the rest of the county.

A spokesman for Protect Kent said: “They do seem to be leading the way and it is real community action.

“Village projects such as this are fantastic and we are in complete support of Elham and their bid.”