Whether you’re a resident, community group or parish council looking to get involved in renewable community energy projects, this directory of resources and support will help you.

Read on to discover:

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What is community energy?

Community energy is the delivery of community-led renewable energy generation projects, which are owned and/or managed by communities. This can be wholly community owned or in partnership with commercial or public sector partners.

Community energy projects can create community cohesion, based on a shared concern for the local and global environment. They can also mean that communities benefit from their local energy resources.

There are lots of examples from the area of energy projects that have a range of benefits to the community, including: providing annual grant funding to other community projects; providing training and educational opportunities; helping to reduce fuel poverty; providing local employment opportunities; and reducing energy costs for residents (where a local tariff has been set up).

Connect with organisations dedicated to supporting community energy projects

These organisations provide free solar PV installations for schools, community organisations and businesses across the West of England region:

The following community funding pots are funded by surplus income from the organisations renewable energy generating projects. Local community groups can apply for a small grant from these community funds to support projects that aim to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate fuel poverty.

  • Bath & West Low Carbon Community Fund -  funded by surplus income from Bath and West Community Energy’s projects to provide grants to local community projects.
  • Bristol Energy Cooperative and Low Carbon Gordano are working with Quartet Community Foundation to administer the Megawatt Fund.

How and where to secure funding for each stage of your community energy project

Empower your local community with clean energy! Our guide outlines how you can secure funding for each stage of your project: getting started, developing your project, and securing capital investment. Discover how to develop and fund renewable community energy project that benefits both people and the planet.

If you are looking to carry out a feasibility study for your proposed project, grant funding may be available from (subject to funding rounds):

Funding for the capital costs of the construction and installation of a community energy project are available from:

Person holding a solar panel

Wind turbine on the coast

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