Please note: The fund closes at the end of the day on Monday, 15 July. Apply now.
Northern Powergrid’s Net Zero Community Energy (NZCE) fund, now in its third year, aims to build capacity in community energy organisations within its region. The £50,000 fund offers grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 to smaller organisations across Northern Powergrid’s geographical area.
Regional Disparities and the Need for Support
The North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and Northern Lincolnshire have fewer and less established community energy organisations compared to regions like the South West. Addressing this disparity through financial support for capacity building is crucial. Over the past two years, more than £100,000 has been distributed to support 17 projects. These initiatives range from feasibility studies of renewable technologies – like solar PV, wind, and hydroelectric power – to pilot projects for energy advice services.
The NZCE fund has continually adapted to better meet the needs of community energy organisations, based on feedback received over the past three years. For instance, recognising that not all applicants can be funded, Northern Powergrid offered a year's membership to Community Energy England for all interested unsuccessful NZCE applicants from the 2023 application round.
Beneficiaries of the NZCE fund
Over the last two years, 15 organisations have benefited from the NZCE fund, including Grimsby Community Energy, York Community Energy, and Durham Community Energy.
Grimsby Community Energy
A 2022 fund recipient, Grimsby Community Energy (GCE) is a cooperative focused on increasing community energy projects in Grimsby and the surrounding areas. GCE received £9,463 from the NZCE fund, which facilitated the development of their fourth community share offer; aiming to raise £314,000 for six solar PV installations (totalling 436 kW in capacity). The fund also supported the promotion campaign and share offer application processing which enabled GCE to bring on two local interns who gained valuable skills working on the project. GCE has since launched its fifth community share offer, currently live online now! (find more information about it here)
York Community Energy
York Community Energy (YCE) received £17,527 in grants across 2022 and 2023. The first project involved creating and implementing a business plan to integrate retrofit and fuel poverty services under a singular service: York Energy Advice. This included acquiring Customer Relationship Management software, a thermal imaging camera and expanding energy advice services, successfully supporting 304 vulnerable households. In the second project, YCE is focusing on site identification and assessments for new renewable installations. This has involved hiring a project coordinator to lead the initiative and engage the local community. A community share offer is planned for later this year.
Durham Community Energy
In 2023, Durham Community Energy (DCE) received £8,370 for a research project, using and developing software to identify optimal locations for community energy projects in County Durham. DCE is undertaking a systematic assessment of the area and is identifying key characteristics that might make a site suitable for community energy development. A report detailing these locations will be published online once the project is complete, aiming to encourage local communities to develop their own energy projects.
Applying for the NZCE fund
Supporting community energy organisations in their growth and innovation is central to the NZCE fund’s mission. Applications for the 2024 fund are currently open and will close at the end of the day on Monday July 15 – apply online here. More information about eligibility, fund guidelines, and additional case studies can be found on Northern Powergrid’s website.