Tools & guidance - Page 6
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Technologies & business models
Community energy is most commonly associated with generating electricity from renewable energy sources like rooftop solar PV, wind turbines, and hydropower. With the Clean Power 2030 Mission hoping to achieve 8GW of local and community ownership of generation, this is going to remain a big focus for the sector. But the sector is also growing […] -
2024 award finalist (highly commended) - The City of York Council
Supportive local authority The City of York Council has been a cornerstone of support for York Community Energy (YCE) and Solar for Schools (SfS), playing a pivotal role in advancing community energy initiatives and promoting sustainability in York. Their multifaceted support, spanning political leadership and operational facilitation, has been integral to fostering local energy projects, […] -
2024 award finalist - Essex County Council
Supportive local authority In 2023, Essex County Council (ECC) won the prestigious ‘Most Supportive Local Authority’ award, cementing its position as a leader in promoting community energy. Over the past year, ECC has upheld and further strengthened its commitment to the community energy sector by implementing a strategic and multifaceted approach. Through meaningful partnerships, robust […] -
Bristol community solar farm provides local benefits
In 2016, Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC) funded and built a 4.2MWp solar farm in the Lawrence Weston area of Bristol. BEC has a particularly close relationship with Ambition Lawrence Weston (ALW), a resident-driven organisation striving to make Lawrence Weston an even better place to live and work. BEC and ALW worked together to gain planning […] -
Raising capital for positive change: Triodos and Empower Community Foundation
Triodos Bank UK raised £4.35m for charity Empower Community Foundation through two separate bond offers on its crowdfunding platform. Empower was created to accelerate the transition to sustainable low carbon local economies by seeking to ensure the financial benefits of renewable energy go back into local communities. Its two 5MW solar parks generate enough electricity […] -
Maxing out rooftop PV in Bristol
The Bottle Yard Film Studios’ premium facility TBY2 opened in 2022, and is powered by a 1MWp solar array made up of over 2,000 panels. Funded by a community share offer run by Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC), the array is believed to be the largest community solar rooftop scheme in the UK. Bristol City Council, […] -
Community Solar Accelerator
Between 2021-23, Brighton Energy Cooperative ran the Community Solar Accelerator, supported by the EU Regional Development Fund. The grant scheme provided match-funding to businesses installing solar panels. All of the project’s case studies can be found on the programme’s archive site and the collection provides examples of a range of types of businesses and solar […] -
Bringing solar to regeneration funding opportunities
In this case study, Solar for Schools worked in partnership with Leeds City Council on a £25 million project involving 12 schools, as part of Public Sector Decarbonisation. -
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. -
OpenLV - using data from your local substation
The project, which was managed by EA Technology, took place across Western Power Distribution’s (WPD’s) licence areas. OpenLV installed software platforms in 80 LV substations across the Midlands, the South West and South Wales. Ten of these platforms were dedicated for the use of community organisations. Seven community organisations were recruited to participate in the project […] -
Friends Provident Foundation - Community Energy Finance Award 2019 - Highly Commended
Friends Provident Foundation (FPF) is an independent charity that makes grants and uses its endowment towards a fair, resilient and sustainable economic system that serves society. They connect, fund, invest and share learning to shape an economy that works for everyone. The foundation has been deploying its capital and influence to accelerate the transition to […] -
Power to Change - Community Energy Finance Award 2019 Winner
Power to Change has been awarded the 2019 Community Energy Finance Award. Power to Change is an independent trust that supports community businesses in England. In 2017 Power to Change invested some of their £150 million endowment to launch the £40 million investment partnership, Community Owned Renewable Energy (CORE) LLP, in partnership with Big Society […]
