Great British Energy launches £5M Partnerships Grant in £30M community energy push

What's the deal? Great British EnergyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has launched a new £5 million Partnerships Grant, part of a wider £30 million funding package to expand community energy across the UK. The grant funds collaborative projects between local authorities and community energy organisations.

How it works: Applications must come from local authorities, which must show that a community energy partner is meaningfully engaged in the proposed project. The money sits alongside a £20 million GBE Community Fund, £1.8 million for the Scottish Government, and up to £2.9 million for advice services across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Why now? The £30 million package forms part of the government's Local Power Plan, which committed to invest up to £1 billion in local and community energy by 2030. It marks a substantial increase on the previous round of the GBE Community Fund.

What's the endgame? The aim is to grow community energy and strengthen ties between community groups and public sector partners. Backers say the projects will reduce bills and build a cleaner, more resilient energy system.

"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," said Dr Matt Vickers, chief executive of Community Energy EnglandDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.

Vickers added that the sector has "long advocated for the new Partnership Fund so councils and community enterprises can work together to transform places."

The signal: The Partnerships Grant signals a push to formalise cooperation between councils and community groups, positioning local partnerships at the centre of the UK's clean energy build-out through 2030.

Read more: communityenergyengland.org

Image credit: Wallboat