Tools & guidance
From new entrants to established organisations, we have resources to help you on your journey
Local authorities and community energy
Local authorities and community energy organisations share common goals: delivering affordable, low-carbon power, tackling fuel poverty, and keeping the economic benefits of the energy transition within communities. This page explains how councils can work with community energy organisations to achieve those goals. It shows practical ways to collaborate, and highlights success stories that can help councils build strong, long-term partnerships with community energy organisations.
Project development tool: Vote Wind
Developed with funding from the ELN, VoteWind is our new open-source community wind planning map. Bringing together multiple planning constraints and wind speed data into a single visual map, it is designed to make it easier for our members and the wider public to identify sites in their local areas that are most suitable for a community […]
Making it count: A guide to evidencing the impact of community energy
A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025).-
Making it count: A guide to evidencing the impact of community energy
A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025). -
Community energy in action: Demonstrating the value of community-led solutions to net zero
A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025). -
Community energy in action: Demonstrating the value of community-led solutions to net zero
A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025). -
The value of community energy: A digest of supporting evidence
A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025). -
The case for community energy
The case for community energy: Understanding the added value of a community energy approach and why support for community energy is vital for the success of the UK’s transition to net zero. A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025). -
The case for community energy
The case for community energy: Understanding the added value of a community energy approach and why support for community energy is vital for the success of the UK’s transition to net zero. A guide created via the Energy Learning Network (ELN) by Saskya Huggins (2025). 
Electricity generation
Solar PV As a mature renewable energy technology, well suited to community renewable energy projects, this is one of the most established areas of the community energy sector. Panels capture energy from the sun using photovoltaic cells. These cells do not need direct sunlight to work – they can still generate some electricity on a […]
Low carbon heat
Heat can be generated by burning biomass (usually wood or sometimes food waste), using ground source or air source heat pumps or by using heat-generating solar panels. These technologies, particularly when coupled with energy efficiency interventions can create huge benefits and increased levels of comfort for people and places.
