Welcome to the CEE Local Authority page, designed to support staff from across different departments and Authority types to know how to gain the value of community energy in your area. 

Showcasing the power of these partnerships: Hollybush Primary School was one of 12 schools that went solar in a frontrunning collaboration between Leeds City Council and community energy organisation Solar for Schools. See more on this £25 million, Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme partnership in this case study.

Seeing what community energy can do in your local area

Community energy offers a diverse range of locally led energy generation and energy saving (efficiency) oppurtunities that provide local areas, and also entire regions, with scaled and smaller investments to support community leadership and local wealth building.

Nationally, community energy has seen increasing support from the UK Government, with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy funding a network of new Net Zero Hubs who have successfully showcased the significant value that can be delivered in partnership with this sector.

"We have turned £1.5 million into £54 million of return and locally owned assets.'

On the value of community energy investments supported between 2019-2022, North West Net Zero Hub

In 2022, there are a series of large scale funds coming through Local Authourities to support national goals in local regeneration, the retrofit of public buildings, and fuel poverty alleviation.

These funds represent huge oppurtunities for Local Authourities to take advantage of the added benefits offerred by community energy partnerships, while delivering on needed goals of reaching Net Zero and supporting local jobs and businesses in their localities. 

Oppurtunities this year

  • Local Regeneration - Shared Prosperity, Levelling Up Funding
  • Public Building Retrofit - Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme III
  • Fuel Poverty Alleviation - Social Housing Decarbonisation Scheme, Home Upgrades Scheme 

Added Value Delivered 

  • Greater local return vs. commerically led oppurtunities 
  • Embedding Net Zero jobs and green growth businesses into your investment plans 
  • Showcasing local leadership and community partnerships

Where to begin: Membership with CEE 

To support Local Authorities, Community Energy England is opening up our national network for interested Local Authorities to join us as Members.

Membership will give Authourities' access to a number of benefits, including: 

  • Links to 280+ community energy organisations who can help you find net zero solutions 
  • Exclusive use of new CEE software and resources
  • Access to a national network of hosted events and training - for you and local groups
Once you join CEE, you'll gain access to a range of CEE tools and resources, including our newest addition - the National Community Energy Map. This can help you gather evidence for investment plans or funding, as well as seek out local partners, by showing you the full extent of  community energy projects and groups that exist in your area. For other opportunities, join us as Members today and start your journey. 


Join the National Network 

“In 2018, Bristol City Council was the first UK council to declare a climate emergency. Our partnerships with community energy groups in the city play a key role in helping us meet our pledge for Bristol to be carbon neutral by 2030. Community energy also helps us deliver on other, equally important goals of economic and social justice.' 

(Lorna Humphreys Energy Project Manager, Bristol City Council Energy Services)