How-to guides
Information, advice, and resources about a wide range of subjects
This section has lots of content related to community energy; the aim is for you to work through the guides in sections that are relevant to you. The areas covered are designed to help groups just starting out in community energy, as well as more experienced practitioners and sector stakeholders.
To get the most relevant how-to guides for you, please select which option best describes you or your organisation from the options below.
London Councils Community Energy Toolkit
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.
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.
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). -
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). 
Definition, impact and sector potential
Impact What makes it different from other forms of energy ownership and delivery, is that community energy is about maximising social and environmental benefits, rather than just solely focusing on maximising profit. We still trade electricity and heat, and provide other commercial energy services, but they are often a means to bring in income to […]
Wider ethics & justice
To learn more about this, some national resources have been collated for you below. CEE hosted presentation on racism, patriarchy and the climate crisis (watch below from 1 hour 2 minutes 30 seconds). CEE Member South East London Community Energy (SELCE), webinar on South East London action, with guest Camila Barens Racial Justice Network Further […]
Energy efficiency & fuel poverty
Video resources and downloads
Transforming energy: the power of local
Created by Bristol Energy Network with Bristol City Council and Community Energy England, this is a practical toolkit to help community groups and local authorities to help them understand each other better and to provide ideas for how to work together and harness the power of local energy.
