£1bn investment aims to boost community clean energy schemes

Renewable energy projects that cut bills and generate cash for local libraries, places of worship and community centres are to get a £1bn boost.

The UK Government and publicly-owned Great British Energy are announcing the “local power plan” backed by up to £1bn in new funding for community-owned clean energy projects such as solar panels and small-scale hydroelectric schemes.

The funding is the “biggest ever investment in community energy in British history”, according to energy secretary Ed Miliband, and it is hoped it will cut bills and generate revenue for the likes of places of worship, social clubs and community and leisure centres.

Great British Energy has already started efforts to boost community energy, with £5m for community energy projects, including solar panels on places of worship in Leicestershire to a solar farm in Wiltshire.

And it has put £16m into mayoral strategic authorities supporting renewables on buildings such as leisure centres and fire stations.

It has also invested £21.5m into community and public sector projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The local power plan will provide up to £1bn investment through grants and loans to community energy groups and local authorities, as well as building up capacity and business models to help local organisations deliver community clean power schemes themselves.

Great British Energy said it is partnering with a number of combined authorities in England to support renewable energy across their regions and will continue to work with devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on community energy.

Miliband said: “Britain’s drive for clean energy is about answering the call for a different kind of economy that works for the many, not just the wealthy and powerful in our society.

“Local and community energy is at the heart of our Government’s vision.

“With the biggest ever investment in community energy in Britain’s history, this Government is saying to every local community: we want you to be able to own and control clean energy so the profits flow into your community, not simply out to the big energy companies.”

The community energy investment aims to support the UK Government’s “pride in place” agenda to revive towns and cities.

Great British Energy chief executive Dan McGrail said: “Communities are at the heart of Great British Energy’s mission.

“Local and community projects create cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy for our communities.

“We are investing up to £1bn into community and local energy projects so that people up and down the country can feel the benefit of public ownership with purpose.”