Explore community energy projects from across the North West, sharing practical experiences, approaches, and lessons from projects supported through the Community Energy Fund.
Collection
Discover how communities across the North West are developing local energy projects with support from the Community Energy Fund.
This collection of case studies showcases a range of community energy approaches to local energy, sharing the challenges faced, solutions explored, the role of community partnerships and funding support, project outcomes, and practical lessons that can help inform and inspire future community energy projects.
Programme details
The national Community Energy Fund (CEF) is a £10 million grant scheme for urban and rural communities to develop community energy projects. The North West administered up to £2 million of funding.
The CEF is for community-based organisations that want to develop projects for the benefit of the local community. Funding is for the development of projects from concept to investable scheme, including the launching approaches to community fund raising.
There were two types of grants available:
- Stage 1 grants – up to £40,000 to pay for professional support to scope project feasibility.
- Stage 2 grants – up to £100,000 for projects that have been found to be feasible, with a good chance of securing planning permission and being implemented.
Case Study