1 Renewable Energy Scenarios: Exploring Technology, Acceptance and 1 Climate - Options at the Community- Scale 2 A. M. Gormally a* , J. D. Whyatt a , R. J. Timmis b & C. G. Pooley a 3 4 a Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ 5 b Environment Agency, c/o Lancaster Environment Centre, University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ 6 * Corresponding author: a.gormally@lancaster.ac.uk 7 8 Abstract: 9 Community-based renewable energy could play a key role in the transition to a low carbon 10 society. This paper argues that given the right environmental and societal conditions, 11 communities in the UK could source a high percentage of their electricity supply from a 12 mixture of localised renewable electricity technologies. Here we use exploratory scenarios 13 to assess demand and renewable electricity supply-side options at the community-scale for 14 a location in Cumbria, UK. Three scenarios are presented, using narratives of how local 15 demand and renewable electricity supply could be constructed under either existing or 16 modified environmental and societal conditions. The three scenarios explored were 17 ‘Current State of Play’, ‘Low Carbon Adjusted Society’ and ‘Reluctant Scenario’. 18 Keywords: Energy scenarios, energy & environment, community-based renewable 19 electricity, climate. 20 1. Introduction 21 Approaches that will increase the supply of renewable energy and reduce demand are 22 needed in response to the UK’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2050 (Climate Change 23