Solar and wind stories

Solar and Wind Stories is a partnership between CPRE Sussex and University of Brighton to help rural communities in East Sussex to imagine acceptable clean energy infrastructures to limit impacts of climate change.

In a collaborative project in 2025 CPRE Sussex and University of Brighton piloted a workshop approach to enable people (of all ages) to explore how they feel about different renewable energy technologies in the communities where they live and in the landscape around them. It uses ‘making’ (crafting model houses with solar panels on the roof), maps, storytelling and Augmented Reality, to help people explore where they would – and wouldn’t – like to see low-carbon energy, essential for cutting climate pollution from our electricity system.

These pilots were done at a primary school, and in a family workshop at our Countryside Day. They found enthusiasm for renewable energy in principle and in people’s own neighbourhoods – but it is not unconditional, with concerns about noise, harm to beautiful views and the impact on nature.

The workshops showed that it’s critical that the energy transition is done with people, not to them, to ensure local buy-in and support.

We’re working with the University of Brighton to explore how we take this project to a much bigger scale, so that it can have real influence on policy and practice, as we decarbonise our energy system.

Read the full report: Solar and Wind CASESTUDY Report LO_f