News & insights - Page 2

Our plans for the year - and an exciting transition
This is an exciting year for community energy. With the government’s Local Power Plan aiming to support 1,000 locally owned clean energy projects, there’s a real opportunity for the sector to grow faster and reach more communities across England. Community-led energy keeps benefits local – from lower bills and warmer homes to stronger local economies and communities with more control over their energy future.
CEE's 2025 highlights
As we come to the end of 2025, we’re proud to look back on a year full of meaningful events, positive policy progress, and great achievements. None of this would have been possible without our members. This year, we welcomed 50 new members, growing our nationwide network of community energy organisations and supporters to more […]Add your news story
CEE Members can add your news story here for inclusion in these pages.
Official update on DfE pause on school solar rooftop leases with PPAs
DfE is approving projects so continue to apply! The Department of Education is approving solar panel installations for PPA projects on school roofs and encourages organisations to continue to apply as normal. You can find out how to apply on the government’s guidance website. Update from 18 March 2026 The Greater South East Net Zero […]
Warehouses and supermarkets: Opportunities and challenges for community solar
Warehouses and supermarkets have some of the largest roof spaces in the country and use a lot of electricity during the day, which makes them ideal for solar power. On 4 December Community Energy England hosted an online event, on behalf of the Energy Learning Network, and in partnership with Ethex, to bring together community […]
Maximising income from community energy projects: Key takeaways from our CEE workshop
Blog written by Connie Duxbury, Younity Last week we ran a practical session on how to get the most value from their renewable generation. With the market shifting, new policies landing, and fresh routes to market emerging, 2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting year for community energy yet! Younity partners with around […]
A message from our Chief Executive about a change in leadership at Community Energy England
After 11 years of tremendous privilege serving as the Chief Executive of Community Energy England, I have made the decision to step down from this role, with an effective date of 31 March 2026. This decision comes after considerable reflection and with gratitude for the opportunity to lead this organisation and serve each of you. […]
Update on Government and GB Energy announcements
Photo credit: Power for People
What does the budget mean for community energy?
The Budget saw the Government make important progress on making energy bills fairer whilst supporting further fuel poverty work and electrification on our way to Clean Power 2030.
Giovanna’s reflections on becoming 2025 community energy champion
Giovanna wrote the following piece after being named Community Energy England’s Community Energy Champion – a recognition that left her delighted, a bit stunned, and deeply reflective about the collective nature of community energy. I’m absolutely chuffed to have been awarded Community Energy England’s Community Energy Champion award. It still feels slightly surreal. I’ve never […]
Kate Gilmartin's keynote speech at the Community Energy Awards 2025
Kate's speech set the campaigning agenda for CEE to ensure community energy is central and indispensable to the radical energy transformation over the coming years.
Highlights from the community energy awards 2025
The community energy awards 2025, hosted in Sheffield on 17 November, brought together over 150 attendees to honour trailblazers in community energy. Sponsored by Lendology and National Grid Electricity Distribution, the event celebrated diverse achievements, from tackling fuel poverty to advancing innovative technologies. Here’s a summary of this year’s winners and their inspiring contributions to […]
Community Energy England launches “Up the Energy” campaign
Community Energy England and its partners have launched a new national campaign – Up the Energy – calling for stronger support to help every community benefit from clean, affordable, locally produced energy. The message is simple: investing in community energy is one of the quickest and fairest ways to cut bills, create jobs, and boost […]