The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, will give the keynote address at a major conference on community energy in Marshfield on Saturday.

The Community Energy - Energising Communities conference will hear from leading experts across the region how local communities can develop, own and manage their own energy projects.

Dr Cable will tell the conference that community energy has a vital role to play in developing a diverse, resilient and local energy supply base for the UK and helping communities to create long term revenue streams over which they have full control.

Interest in community energy projects has been growing rapidly across the UK over the last three years, spurred by rising energy prices, Government incentives and technological developments, making it cheaper and easier to generate heat and electricity from renewable sources.

'"This is about communities wanting to take responsibility for generating a proportion of the heat and power they need themselves, so we can reduce our dependence on the big six energy companies," said Karen Wilkinson of Marshfield Energy Project, which is running the event with help from South Gloucestershire Council.

"And it's also about creating long-term sources of income for communities now during a time of austerity, and for decades to come."

The conference will hear from community energy initiatives successfully developed in Bath, Totnes and Oxfordshire, and about three possible options for Marshfield using solar, anaerobic digestion and wind to generate heat, power and income for the village.

"We know from surveys done in Marshfield that the majority of respondents are in favour of generating electricity locally. The questions now are about finding the right technology, the right scale and the right location," said Tim Willmott of Marshfield Energy Project.

"This conference is an opportunity for local people to find out more, raise questions and learn how to become involved.

"The participation of Dr Cable underlines Government interest in communities taking control of their own energy needs and generation, and the potential for community energy projects to shake up the energy market and stimulate the economy."

The conference will also be attended by Steve Webb MP for Thornbury and Yate.

Community Energy - Energising Communities runs from 11am to 3.30pm at the offices of Windhager UK in Marshfield on Saturday.