The Hub is pleased to announce that a total of 18 community-led energy projects in the South West have received funding since the launch of the Government’s Community Energy Fund (CEF) last year.
The £10 million national scheme is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and managed by the South West Net Zero Hub in the region. The Hub has completed two funding rounds, awarding £686,075.50 to help kickstart a range of projects. CEF Application Window 4 is now open in the South West and applications to Window 3 are currently being assessed.
CEF supports communities to develop local renewable energy projects which play an important role in carbon reduction and have wider benefits for the communities that develop them. The funding will support community groups to consider options, design schemes and overcome barriers.
We received CEF applications for a wide range of technologies including:
- ground and roof mounted solar (some with batteries)
- ground mounted solar in combination with EV charging and wind
- solar and wind in combination with battery
- ground source heat with potential expansion to a heat network
- community owned retrofit, energy advice and bulk buy projects
Some of the successful applicants are already experienced Community Energy groups including:
- Bristol Energy Cooperative are working on two projects in South Gloucestershire.
- Bath and West Community Energy received funding for three projects, one of which is exploring the feasibility of community owned solar and local supply on the outskirts of Bath.
- In Devon, Exeter Community Energy are exploring the feasibility of a solar project
We are also delighted to see that CEF has also encouraged some new entrants into the community energy space, among them:
- Resilience Network in Bristol are exploring the feasibility of community owned rooftop solar through their ‘Bristol Solar Challenge’.
- Dartington Recreation Association are exploring the potential of community owned energy assets for their community site near Totnes.
- Three Seas Cornwall are exploring the feasibility of community owned energy at their proposed housing scheme in Looe.
The Hub will now work with the groups awarded funding to develop their project ideas. Details of the projects awarded funding are available on our website, with more to be added over the coming weeks. CEF window 4 is now open for applications. More information and application dates up to March 2025 are available on our Community Energy Fund webpage.
Simon Ryan, Manager, Three Seas Cornwall said; “We are hugely grateful to CEF for the grant award. Three Seas Cornwall is successfully creating low-rent housing for local people, and we really wanted ways to design serious viable installations for green energy. The CEF grant gives us exactly that – the chance to create practical, costed solutions for reduced carbon/lower bills and community benefit too. We’re committed to sharing our work and learning from others in the same sector; this is the start of something truly important.”
James Brittain from the Dartington Recreation Association said; “The Dartington Recreation Association, trustees and local community partners are exploring whether Meadowbrook can become a ‘lean, clean & green powerhouse’, a site which generates more energy than it needs. The challenge is that we all need reassurance that any assets the community invests in will deliver benefits for all and this can be difficult to achieve for a potentially large complex project. So, the CEF funding is vital to help us undertake significant feasibility and due diligence work before any local commitments can be made. The Big Idea is that excess energy is shared with our neighbours and income helps fund our community facilities and services.”
David Lewis, Programme Manager, South West Net Zero Hub said; “It’s great to see community-led energy being supported by the CEF awards and particularly exciting to have some new local groups receiving grants to help get renewable energy projects off the ground in their communities.”
For more information and a details of the projects awarded funding so far, visit our CEF webpage or contact communityenergy@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
