The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero’s new £10 million Community Energy Fund will allow both urban and rural communities to develop clean energy projects in their area. Setting up local energy projects is expected to provide jobs and energy security.

The funding is for projects that are proposed, designed and owned by local people, such as small-scale wind farms, rooftop solar partnerships, battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points, and fuel poverty alleviation schemes.

As with the former Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), the new Community Energy Fund will be delivered through Local Net Zero Hubs (partnerships between local authorities and local private sector businesses).

Commenting on the new fund, Minister for Nuclear and Networks Andrew Bowie said:

“[Local communities] will be able to drive forward innovative energy projects that will have a lasting positive impact, bringing costs down, building stronger communities, and securing clean energy for generations to come.

“Importantly, these energy projects could expand beyond local areas by attracting further investment from the private sector, in turn inspiring other communities to power their area with energy from England.”

The government announcement can be read on GOV.UK website.

The Community Energy Fund will open to applications in the early Autumn.