Communities across the country will be able to build and control their own clean energy supply
- 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: “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.