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Community energy

Community energy is a broad term referring to the development of locally owned renewable energy, energy efficiency or demand reduction projects.

These projects can be wholly owned and managed by the communities where the projects are situated, or developed in partnership with public sector or commercial bodies.

What are the benefits of community energy?

Development of community energy has a number of advantages:

  • placing communities at the heart of the energy transition
  • developing skills and jobs
  • reducing emissions
  • keeping the financial benefits local

Successful community energy projects are often created with specific goals in mind but can arise from opportunities created by external partners or developers. The benefits can be managed in a way that maximises the goals or ambitions of the group.

What support is available to community energy groups?

Community groups can draw on a wide range of support: from advice on setting up groups and the associated legal structure, to feasibility studies and ultimately financing and construction of projects. Advice is often available for on-going management of a project, from technical support to managing the financial benefits so they can used to support a wide range of non-energy related goals.

 

Latest blogs

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On the path to net zero: community energy

18 May 2020

A community energy project can happen anywhere in the country, from remote villages to city neighbourhoods.

Social networking for the community energy sector

4 September 2015

Graham Ayling, head of the Energy Saving Trust Foundation, explains what community groups can learn from the hub, what it’s all about…

Developing community energy, with some help from Europe

29 August 2019

Energy generated and used in local areas opens up a level of independence from the big, dominant energy companies.

Latest news

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EU HEROES: shaping the future of community solar

22 September 2020

EU HEROES is a European project that tackles barriers to the development of community-owned solar photovoltaic projects.

‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’ report – our response

18 July 2019

A new report, ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’, calls for major changes to most homes in the country, over the next…

Our response to the January 2024 price cap increase

23 November 2023

Energy bills are rising again. Stew Horne, our head of policy, shares his views on the latest change to gas and electricity…

What we need from the 2023 autumn statement

21 November 2023

See what our chief executive says about the 2023 autumn statement and the next energy bill increase.

Last updated: 4 December 2020