‘People’s Power’ Projects to Give More Control over Local Energy

• Great British Energy rolls out first wave of biggest public community energy investment in UK history, backing local places to cut bills and take climate action
• Local authorities and community energy groups can now access funding to build their own clean power projects
• Communities to be offered an ownership stake in renewable energy projects, ensuring proceeds of clean power flow back into local areas

Communities across the country will be able to build and control their own clean energy supply that will help to cut bills, grow local wealth and tackle the climate crisis – with the rollout of People’s Power projects across the UK.

Local authorities and community energy groups across the UK will now be able to progress plans for their own clean power projects - from solar panels on local buildings to village-owned wind farms and hydro schemes in nearby rivers. This will help to put money back in the pockets of communities and allow them to join in UK-wide climate action, following the record temperatures reached this summer due to climate change.

Great British Energy is today (Thursday 17 September) launching £30 million funding to kick start a community power revolution – the first downpayment on up to £1 billion, announced earlier this year, with the aim to support over 1,000 local and community-led clean energy projects across the UK. These will be owned by community energy groups or local authorities, meaning local areas can reap the full benefits – from reduced bills for local services to ensuring profits from the clean power generated flow back into towns and villages, rather than just to energy companies.

After the heatwaves and extreme weather events seen this year, this funding will give communities a route to helping tackle climate change - empowering them to move away from fossil fuels with their own clean energy supply that will help cut emissions and protect their local area.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

I know many people are worried about climate change and feel like they’ve got no control over where their energy comes from, or how they can actually make a difference.
Today we’re changing that by giving people power. Whether it’s solar panels on a local library or a community-owned wind farm, we’re letting people decide what clean energy projects they want and making sure they feel the benefits of the clean energy transition in their pockets too.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said:

All of us felt deep concern for our climate during the record-breaking temperatures we experienced this summer.
Ahead of New York Climate week, we are putting power in the hands of people and places, so more communities can take action.
Everyone deserves a stake in our energy future and through these local power projects, communities can reap the full benefits of clean energy – reducing emissions, cutting bills and reinvesting profits to benefit local areas, instead of big energy companies.

CEO of Great British Energy Dan McGrail said:

Great British Energy is continuing to put communities at the heart of the clean energy transition with the GBE Community Fund and Partnerships Grant. Our vision is that every community should have the chance to build and own its own renewable energy. These grants will give community organisations and local authorities the practical support they need to get clean energy projects off the ground - lowering bills, supporting jobs and putting the benefits from energy into local hands.

Alongside funding specific local power projects, the government will also set out further details this Autumn on plans for community energy groups to be offered an ownership stake in renewable energy projects.

This aims to create partnerships between communities and developers that will see proceeds of clean power flow back into local areas. It will bring Britain in line with countries like Germany and Denmark, where this type of ownership set up is already widely used – allowing communities to benefit directly from local clean power.

It comes as a host of Great British Energy schemes come online, helping local services save on energy bills in towns and cities across England. Over 150 renewable projects have now switched-on for public buildings in England’s Mayoral Combined Authorities, with more to follow – which together could see up to £50 million in total energy bill savings reinvested in local services.

Notes to Editors

Local ownership is already breathing new life into neighbourhoods across the country, reviving pubs, libraries and leisure centres. But for too long, community-run energy projects have been held back by a lack of funding, advice and government support.

Great British Energy is changing this as applications have opened today for new grants to support community energy projects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - while £1.8 million has been allocated to the Scottish Government for its existing community energy support programme. It forms the first wave of up to £1 billion in support to put clean energy back in the hand of communities.

This is on top of up to £16 million in Great British Energy support already provided to all Mayoral Combined Authorities in England to help local services save on bills with 157 new rooftop solar projects now installed - from fire stations to leisure centres.

The Great British Energy support launched today includes:

• The £20 million Community Fund – offers grant funding to help community organisations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to test, develop and build community-owned clean energy assets. Projects supported by this fund must demonstrate that the community will hold a defined legal and financial interest in the project, and that a defined share of project benefits will be retained for, or delivered to, the local community.
• The £5 million Partnerships Grant – a new scheme offering grant funding to help Local Authorities in England and community energy partners accelerate joint clean energy projects that will provide lasting local benefits.
• £1.8 million in Great British Energy funding for the Scottish Government to back community energy projects across Scotland, building on more than £10 million provided earlier this year. This will support Scotland’s existing community energy support schemes, under the Scottish Government’s CARES programme.
• Advice services – Great British Energy is also backing organisations that offer crucial advice to local groups on the development of community energy initiatives with up to £2.9 million support for advice services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Great British Energy is also seeking information from investors to help size and scope its future products.

CEO of Community Energy England Dr Matt Vickers said:

Community Energy England welcomes the GBE Community Fund as the first step in the £1bn investment in community and local energy in the Local Power Plan. This will enable community enterprises across the country to deliver projects which will reduce bills, create a more resilient and cleaner energy system and most importantly keep the benefits of energy in the communities where it’s generated.

We’ve long advocated for the new Partnership Fund so councils and community enterprises can work together to transform places.