Community energy is about people coming together to use local resources to reduce, manage or generate their own energy.
Why develop a community energy project?
The community energy sector is growing, with projects being developed at various scales by a range of organisations. These could be anything from a small-scale school heat retrofit project, through to a multi-megawatt solar installation delivered in partnership with a local authority.
The common thread that runs through all these projects is a unique drive from community energy groups to deliver significant positive change for the local community.
Community energy plays an important role in driving local climate action and engagement, as well as having wider economic, social and environmental benefits. Some of the key benefits of community energy include:
- Reducing carbon emissions and delivering net zero ambitions
- Creating a secure local energy supply through decentralised electricity and heat generation
- Protecting local people from rising fuel costs and reducing the risk of fuel poverty
- Generating income for community benefit
- Creating jobs and increasing social cohesion
For examples of community energy projects that the Hub is supporting visit the Community Energy Fund page below.
Community Energy Funding
On the 21 of March 2025, the Government announced funding for a new round of the Great British Energy Community Fund, previously known as the Community Energy Fund (CEF).
A total of £5m of funding nationally will be made available to town and parish councils, community organisations, sports teams, charities and faith groups – helping to generate energy closer to where it is used and which local people benefit from. This will build on previous funding for community energy projects in the South West.
Details relating to the next round of Great British Energy Community Fund will be published in due course.
You can see some information from our previous CEF and Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) funds below.
Other funding for community energy projects
The Hub can support organisations to explore other funding options for their projects. A good starting point for information on current grant opportunities is the Community Energy England Funding Opportunities page
How can the Hub support your community energy project?
We are keen to hear from community energy groups and other organisations looking to develop projects that could benefit the local community. Whether it is electricity or heat generation, energy efficiency, fuel poverty or another energy project, get in touch to discuss the support you need: communityenergy@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
