Community energy

Community energy is community-led renewable energy, energy efficiency, and supply projects – either fully community-owned or delivered in partnership with commercial or public sector organisations.

Community energy can help to ensure that local people engage with and benefit directly from the energy transition and can contribute not just to local energy objectives, but also:

Greater South East Net Zero Hub – Pylon, wind turbines and solar panels

Community energy benefits

Finance – community energy groups can access sources of funding not available to the public sector (such as raising finance through community shares).
Energy security – by supplying locally generated energy, community energy projects can help to protect consumers from future energy price rises.
Economic development – community energy groups keep earnings and profits local so that they feedback into the local economy.
A just transition – engaging with the local community via community energy groups can help to ensure that different sections of the community are considered within and benefit from a transition to local renewable energy.