Great British Energy (GBE) is rolling out the first wave of its Local Power Plan, with £30m in funding to “kick start a community power revolution”.
Sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, GBE is publicly owned energy investment company which forms a central plank in the government’s renewables agenda. With the round of funding, it says local authorities and community energy groups across the UK will be able to progress plans for their own clean power projects – from solar panels on local buildings to village-owned wind farms and hydro schemes in nearby rivers.
“This will help to put money back in the pockets of communities,” said GBE in a press release, “and allow them to join in UK-wide climate action, following the record temperatures reached this summer due to climate change.”
The £30m is the first round of the £1bn Local Power Plan announced earlier this year, with the aim of supporting over 1,000 local and community-led clean energy projects across the UK.
“I know many people are worried about climate change,” said prime minister Andy Burnham, “and feel like they’ve got no control over where their energy comes from, or how they can actually make a difference.
“We’re changing that by giving people power. Whether it’s solar panels on a local library or a community-owned wind farm, we’re letting people decide what clean energy projects they want and making sure they feel the benefits of the clean energy transition in their pockets too.”
Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “All of us felt deep concern for our climate during the record-breaking temperatures we experienced this summer.
Related: Local energy co-op model takes off in Switzerland
“Ahead of New York Climate week, we are putting power in the hands of people and places, so more communities can take action.
“Everyone deserves a stake in our energy future and through these local power projects, communities can reap the full benefits of clean energy – reducing emissions, cutting bills and reinvesting profits to benefit local areas, instead of big energy companies.”
GBE CEO Dan McGrail said: “Great British Energy is continuing to put communities at the heart of the clean energy transition with the GBE Community Fund and Partnerships Grant. Our vision is that every community should have the chance to build and own its own renewable energy. These grants will give community organisations and local authorities the practical support they need to get clean energy projects off the ground – lowering bills, supporting jobs and putting the benefits from energy into local hands.”
The £30m funding round includes the GBE Community Fund (£20m), the new GBE Partnerships Grant for local authorities actively collaborating with their community organisations (£5m), funding for the Scottish government (£1.8m) and funding for advice services that support local groups with the development of community energy initiatives with up to £2.9m across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the news, Community Energy England CEO Matt Vickers said: “Community Energy England welcomes the GBE Community Fund as the first step in the £1bn investment in community and local energy in the Local Power Plan.
“This will enable community enterprises across the country to deliver projects which will reduce bills, create a more resilient and cleaner energy system and most importantly keep the benefits of energy in the communities where it’s generated.
“We’ve long advocated for the new Partnership Fund so councils and community enterprises can work together to transform places.”
For more information, see the GBE Partnerships Grant webpage
