TRESOC receiving the Community Energy Initiative Award; Ian Bright, TRESOC Founder Director (far left), Dean Leybourn, TRESOC Marketing Director, Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, TRESOC Managing Director.

TRESOC and its Managing Director Scoop Double Win at the Regen Green Energy Awards 2026

2nd April 2026 Peter Shearn

Totnes Renewable Energy Society wins the Community Energy Initiative Award for its Energy Local Totnes project, while Managing Director, Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, also wins Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award.

Totnes, Devon – Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) has celebrated a remarkable double triumph at the prestigious Regen Green Energy Awards 2026, held on Thursday 26th March at the Bristol Harbour Hotel. The society took home the Community Energy Initiative Award for its ground-breaking Energy Local Totnes project, while TRESOC’s Managing Director, Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, was jointly awarded the Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award in recognition of her outstanding personal contribution to the development of a net zero energy system.

The Regen Green Energy Awards

Now in their twentieth year, the Regen Green Energy Awards are a leading national celebration of the innovative technologies, pioneering companies and inspiring individuals shaking up the energy system and driving the UK towards a net zero future. The awards bring together the full spectrum of the clean energy sector – from policymakers and network operators to investors, developers and community organisations – and are widely regarded as the highlight of the UK’s clean energy calendar.

Community Energy Initiative Award

The TRESOC team and Dr Mary Gillie (centre)

The Community Energy Initiative Award – sponsored by National Grid – recognises the role of inspiring community energy organisations across the UK, working to deliver a net zero energy system in a just way. TRESOC received the award for its Energy Local Totnes project.

Energy Local Totnes is a community energy club set up by TRESOC in partnership with Energy Local CIC, the UK-wide initiative founded by Dr Mary Gillie. The club allows households and small businesses within the Totnes electricity substation area to source their power from locally generated renewable energy, currently anchored by the 330kW hydroelectric plant at Totnes Weir. Members benefit from significantly reduced electricity bills – with some saving up to 30% – while local renewable generators receive a fairer price for the power they produce. Energy Local Totnes is the first scalable Energy Local club, allowing additional generators to feed into the club, expanding capacity and membership numbers.

TRESOC and Energy Local CIC are now working to replicate the club in communities across South Devon, demonstrating that local energy markets can deliver real carbon savings, tackle fuel poverty and build community resilience. This work has been supported by the South West Net Zero Hub, a government-funded initiative that provides support to community energy groups across the region. With TRESOC and South Hams District Council’s upcoming solar installation at Dart Marine Park, the Hub’s funding and support will both help to grow TRESOC and expand Energy Local Totnes’s membership capacity.

Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award – A Historic Joint Win

Dr Mary Gillie, David Lewis (Program Manager, South West Net Zero Hub), Dr Sally Murrall-Smith

The Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award recognises the achievements of inspiring individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference in the development of a net zero energy system. In an unprecedented move, this year the award was presented jointly to two recipients: Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, Managing Director of TRESOC and founder director of Energy Local Totnes, and Dr Mary Gillie, the founder of Energy Local CIC.

“I’m thoroughly delighted – both that Energy Local Totnes has been recognised, and that I get to share the Net Zero Energy Pioneer Award with Mary Gillie, whose work made all of this possible. There was stiff competition, and I feel genuinely honoured,” said Sally Murrall-Smith. “But this really shows what communities can achieve when they come together, so a huge amount of credit must go to the TRESOC team and members, Energy Local CIC, and the progressive councillors and government bodies who believed in us.”

Dr Murrall-Smith has been instrumental in shaping and delivering the Energy Local Totnes project from concept to reality, navigating complex technical, regulatory and financial challenges to create a working local energy market that is already benefiting the Totnes community. Dr Gillie, whose vision and determination created the Energy Local model, has established a network of community energy clubs across England and Wales and championed local energy markets at the highest levels of policy debate.