Kerry McCarthy, Minister for Climate in the new government, came to Osney Lock Hydro on 18 July as part of a visit to Low Carbon Hub. The minister wanted to learn how LCH has worked with the local community on innovative projects to accelerate the transition to net zero. As well as seeing the hydro, she learned about the rooftop arrays owned by WOCoRe and LCH, and the Osney Supercharge project.

Ms McCarthy said:

Tackling climate change is a shared challenge that can start at home. In my first visit as Climate Minister to Osney Lock Hydro and the Low Carbon Hub, I’ve seen first-hand the hugely important role local communities are playing in our mission for clean power – with investment funnelled straight back into innovative energy projects.

As we accelerate towards net zero, we want to see more of this. That’s why through Great British Energy we will create the Local Power Plan, so that local authorities and communities are empowered to support cleaner and more secure homegrown energy for their towns and villages.

The minister met OLH directors Barbara Hammond, Saskya Huggins and Simon Collings. Also on the visit were members of the minister’s office, Councillors Anna Railton and Pete Sudbury and Prof Malcolm McCulloch from the Energy and Power Group at the University of Oxford.