About community led heat projects
Community organisations, particularly those in deprived communities, are most in need of support to transition to clean, reliable energy sources. They are also well placed to lead a just transition in their local areas.
Yet over 7,300 community buildings in England do not meet basic EPC rating C and just 2% of buildings in the UK are heated by low-carbon heat networks.
There are a few initiatives in the UK led by charities and social enterprises including:
Bore Place, Kent
Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire
Swaffham Prior, Cambridgeshire
Springbok Sustainable, Surrey
Want to know more?
If your charity or social enterprise is interested in net zero transition, we’d love to hear from you. Contact the team at martin.ives@sibgroup.org.uk
Sources of information on community energy
Community Energy England
Community Energy England is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping community energy organisations create and implement new projects. Website: www.communityenergyengland.org
Centre for Sustainable Energy
The Centre for Sustainable Energy is a charity supporting people and organisations across the UK to tackle the climate emergency and end the suffering caused by cold homes. Website: www.cse.org.uk
Energy Savings Trust
Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency. They support householders, businesses and community organisations to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and transition to sustainable energy. Website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Regional Net Zero Hubs
The five regional net zero hubs support community energy organisations, local authorities and groups in their areas.
Greater South East Net Zero Hub
North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub
Sources of funding for community energy
Community Energy Fund
The £10 million Community Energy Fund (CEF) aims to help communities develop local renewable energy projects. Funding could help to kickstart projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points, and fuel poverty alleviation schemes – all proposed, designed and owned by local people.
Funding is administered through the regional Net Zero Hubs. For more information, visit https://communityenergyengland.org/pages/community-energy-fund/
Energy Resilience Fund
The Energy Resilience Fund offers finance to enable community and social enterprises to retrofit energy generating/saving technology on community owned or managed buildings, with an initial focus on stabilising or reducing energy costs.
Funding is administered by Key Fund. For more information, visit https://thekeyfund.co.uk/funding/community-business-fund-2/
