Government puts £1bn behind community energy

Community energy is moving back into the headlines, with the UK government announcing plans to make up to £1bn available for locally owned green energy projects. The aim is to give communities more control over how their energy is generated, where the profits go and how local priorities are supported.

The funding, to be delivered through GB Energy, is expected to support around 1,000 projects across the UK. These could include Solar PV on public buildings, small wind schemes, hydro installations or shared battery storage. For many rural areas, this creates an opportunity to produce cheaper local power and reinvest the benefits into services such as transport, community buildings or affordable housing.

Community energy groups across England, Scotland and Wales have grown steadily in recent years, with more people choosing to become members of local schemes. Councils are also beginning to explore publicly owned energy, from solar co‑ops to community wind projects. Sector leaders have welcomed the new funding, noting that it could help more projects move forward, provided the electricity grid can support the additional capacity.

For communities looking to take ownership of their energy future, this could be a turning point. If you have a project in mind or want to explore what’s possible, the East Green Energy team is here to help you take the next step.

You can also visit the GB Energy website for more information.