E4A News

Congratulation to Kate Meakin who won the ‘Community Energy Champion’ Award at the Community Energy Awards 2024.

Kate manages the operations and projects for Energise Sussex Coast, including the award winning energy advice service which helps many hundreds of residents save energy and bring their bills down each year. She is also a voluntary director for Energise South, a member of the Energy4All network which has raised community investment to finance and install solar arrays on nine community buildings.

According to Community Energy England: ‘Kate Meakin’s influence on Energise Sussex Coast is nothing short of transformative. Her blend of strategic vision, innovative leadership, and compassionate community engagement has not only ensured the sustainability of ESC but has also significantly enhanced the quality of life for countless residents facing energy poverty. Without her, the achievements of ESC would not have been remotely possible.’

Community Energy England noted the ‘pivotal role’ that Kate Meakin has played in establishing Energise South: ‘Through her leadership, £450,000 was raised for solar PV installations on nine community buildings, schools, and businesses across the South East. These sites currently generate over half a million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. ESC has also recently completed shepherding an innovative solar retrofit of a 36-flat sheltered-housing block in Bexhill, which has helped its residents reduce their energy costs by up to 50%.”

You can find out more about the fantastic work being done by Kate and the Energise South/Sussex Coast teams on the following websites:

Energise South

Energise Sussex Coast

You can find out more about the awards and all finalists on the Community Energy England website.