Co-operative Conversation - with Giovanna Speciale

Giovanna  Speciale - 19 May 2025

South East London Community Energy (Selce) is an award-winning kick-arse community energy group. Dr Giovanna Speciale is one of its founders and its CEO. She and her fellow residents started Selce with nothing but big ideas; she aimed to transform the energy system in SE London from the grassroots to make it fit for the future. Selce now owns half a megawatt of solar PV and LED assets; they enable over 1000 vulnerable households per year to reduce their energy costs (and carbon) always look for new ways to combat fuel poverty; they support households, community venues, and businesses to manage their retrofit and renewable energy journey. 

Giovanna is a recovering academic who worked for 10 years as a consultant researcher in the community sector. Her M.Sc. in Energy Policy gave her the tools to understand the transformative role of community energy. Living on board a solar and wind-powered off-grid Eco houseboat gave her the financial freedom to volunteer to get Selce off the starting blocks. Her role at Selce has evolved from ‘do-everything’ (administrator, energy advisor, project developer, fundraiser, asset manager, project manager) to one of leading a team of over 50 staff, volunteers, and voluntary Directors. Her commitment to grassroots action that puts the community at the heart of energy transition remains constant.