The Community Energy Fund is a new programme that helps communities in England to develop clean energy projects to benefit their local areas. It is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and will be administered in the South East by Greater South East Net Zero Hub.
Funding is to cover the professional costs of undertaking a feasibility study and producing a report to establish the technical and financial viability. It may also be used to develop a project that has been able to demonstrate technical and financial viability. This includes the legal costs of securing a site, an environmental impact assessment, planning and permitting applications, and development of a business plan.
Project can cover the following:
Community energy asset project
- renewable, low carbon
- energy, electric vehicles
Community energy efficiency or advice project
- advice targeting all households
- bulk-buy scheme for energy efficiency and renewable measures (multiple households)
- other energy efficiency retrofit programme (multiple households)
The scale of projects eligible for funding will vary according to technology type. In general terms, projects should require planning permission and significant pre-planning development. Applications based on single buildings will only be eligible if they create an asset that benefits the community beyond meeting the building’s own energy needs (such as a village hall that generates enough energy to support an electric vehicle charging point, or exports energy to create a community benefit fund).
Eligible groups include:
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- Community Benefit Society (CBS or Bencom)
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Co-operative Society
- Development Trust
- Pre-commencement society
- Registered charity (including eligible faith groups, sports clubs, etc.)
- Registered provider of social housing (this can include local authority or social landlord owned social housing)
- Registered Society
- Town or Parish Council
More information and apply
Funding rounds have opened and will continue until early 2025.
Find out more including how to apply on the Greater South East Net Zero Hub website (external link).