Groups and organisations looking to deliver community-led energy projects can now tap into a bumper six-figure fund.
Electricity North West’s popular Powering our Communities fund has returned for the sixth time with £100,000 committed to community energy.
The North West’s power network operator is looking to support communities to develop their energy projects by providing early stage funding to help get their projects going. That might include developing a local plan, engagement activities, overcoming a specific barrier, feasibility studies or business plan development.
The aim is to support activities that will lead on to carbon savings and wide spread community engagement.
Since launching, Electricity North West has awarded groups and organisations across the region more than £400,000 to benefit local communities in the region.
Stephanie Trubshaw, Electricity North West’s customer services and connections director, said: “We’re really pleased to re-open the Powering our Communities fund for a sixth year.
“We already have some of the lowest charges of any network operator in the country and we want to continue supporting community energy schemes too. Each year applications have gone from strength-to-strength, without a doubt there’s a growing interest in energy and more of our customers want to play their part in tackling climate change.
“Community energy has a huge role to play in the North West as we all switch to using more, clean green electricity for things like transport and heating. Community energy projects range from solar panels to wind power, and all contribute to reaching the North West’s net zero targets.”
Applications can be submitted by any type of organisation or community group. All projects will need to demonstrate the community involvement or local benefit of their project.
Projects in partnership with organisations such as local authorities and businesses will also be considered if it is clear what control and benefit the local community has as a result of the project.
Last year, Rossendale Valley Energy, were awarded funds to engage their community on plans for a large solar farm and for a project to transform a terraced street to net zero. And in Cumbria, Cumbria Action for Sustainability secured a grant to link households and community buildings to local installers and community energy groups to facilitate solar panel installations.
Applications for this year’s fund must be submitted by 19 July and successful applicants will be notified by September.
Funding up to £15,000 per project is available as Electricity North West wants to target projects which investigate or pilot new business models or ways of working, scale up delivery of a community or local energy project or group, or projects that address specific barriers that are holding back the development of community or local energy.
To support applicants a webinar will be held on the 11 May at 10 am covering the types of community energy projects Electricity North West supports and the application process, to register, please visit https://Powering-Our-Communities-Fund-2023.eventbrite.co.uk
To find out more information please visit www.enwl.co.uk/funding.
