The Community Energy Fund (CEF) is a £10m grant scheme for urban and rural communities to develop energy services to benefit their local area.
The funding will help to kickstart clean energy projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points. It can also be used to fund fuel poverty alleviation schemes such as energy efficiency, retrofit, and advice projects.
The CEF aims to empower local people to take control of their energy future by:
– Increasing the number of community-owned low-carbon energy assets
– Supporting communities to reduce energy cost and demand
– Generating local income through community-owned energy assets
– Reinvesting income locally and kickstarting private investment
– Supporting local jobs, growth and volunteering opportunities
– Enabling places to benefit from clean, renewable, local energy
The fund will achieve its aims by supporting the earlier-development stages of community-scale projects.
About the funding
Funding will be offered for a:
– Stage 1 Feasibility Grant of up to £40,000 to produce a feasibility study to establish the technical and financial viability of a project and/or
– Stage 2 Development Grant of up to £100,000 for a more detailed investigation of the technology, for planning applications and to develop a business case.
Please note: the fund is for the development of projects from concept to investment-ready scheme. It does not provide capital funding for the installation of projects themselves.
Who can apply to the CEF?
The fund is for eligible community-based organisations on England with projects that will bring benefits to the local community. These are:
– Amateur sports clubs
– Charitable Incorporated Organisations
– Community Benefit Societies
– Community Interest Companies
– Co-operative Societies
– Development Trusts
– Faith Groups
– Pre-commencement societies
– Registered charities
– Registered Social Landlords (partnered with a community group)
– Town or Parish councils
Applicants need to show that a good level of community engagement has been carried out and that there is genuine community support for the project, including plans for ongoing community engagement.
How to apply
The Community Energy Fund is a national scheme funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The five Local Net Zero Hubs across England will be delivering the fund, with the Midlands Net Zero Hub supporting projects in the Midlands. Please read through the guidance below and send your completed application form to the Community Energy Fund inbox.
Stage 1 applications
Stage 1 Feasibility Grant of up to £40,000 to produce a feasibility study to establish the technical and financial viability of a project.
– Stage 1 Application Guidance
Stage 2 applications
Stage 2 Development Grant of up to £100,000 for a more detailed investigation of the technology, for planning applications and to develop a business case.
– Stage 2 Application Guidance
The next round is open for applications until 4th June 2024. Subsequent rounds will be:
– 13th September 2024
– 8th November 2024
If you have any questions about the application process, email us at [email protected].
To support community groups to make their applications to the Community Energy Fund, we are running two webinars.
Local groups are invited to discover how to apply, if they qualify, and top tips for a great application from the team that will help along the journey.
- Tuesday 7th May- 12-1pm
- Thursday 9th May 7-8pm
