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.
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.
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.
Flexibility & network services
Definition of flexibility (from Project LEO) A flexibility provider is a user who provides flexibility services by making temporary changes to the way they consume, generate, or store electricity when requested, to support a more efficient use of the energy network. Distribution network operators’ (DNOs) requirements and auctions
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 […]
Community energy around the world
Although England pioneered cooperatives, community energy isn’t just an English thing; it is happening all over the globe. There are a host of other organisations and networks you might wish to connect to and learn from across the UK and internationally. In the UK Outside the UK International development We also support the use of […]
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 […]
Community engagement & diversity
By actively involving local communities, you can build trust and ensure the project meets the needs of everyone it serves. A core part of this is prioritising diversity by encouraging participation from a wide range of local residents and stakeholders, making sure your project is inclusive and truly representative of your community. Here are some […]
Wellbeing & teamwork
As your team grows, focusing on the wellbeing of everyone involved is key. A holistic approach encompassing culture, practical benefits, and explicit support for both mental and physical health is essential for teams with a mix of paid employees and volunteers working in diverse settings, sometimes including offices, project sites and remote working. Different permutations […]
Energy efficiency & fuel poverty
Video resources and downloads
