A bumper fund worth £75,000 is now available to groups and organisations throughout the North West.
Today, Electricity North West has launched its popular Powering our Communities fund.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been made available over recent years to groups and organisations that want to develop or expand their own community energy project.
The power network operator is looking for community energy projects eligible that might include things such as solar panels on community buildings or generating energy from a local water source or wind power.
Or, any community-led projects or initiatives which reduce, manage, generate or purchase energy and focus on engagement and benefits to the local area and its communities.
“I’m over the moon to be able to once again launch the ‘powering our communities fund,” said Helen Seagrave, Electricity North West’s community energy manager.
“We first launched the fund back in 2017 and each year, applications have gone from strength to strength and I really think that’s because people are starting to take much more notice about community energy because they want to do something to tackle climate change.
“We know the energy landscape is constantly evolving, more and more people are taking a keen interest in net-zero, and community energy projects will help contribute to ensuring the region meets its ambitious net-zero targets.”
Now in its fifth year, groups and organisations throughout the North West have benefitted from more than £275,000 worth of funding.
Applications can be submitted by any type of organisation or community group if they can demonstrate the community involvement or local benefit of their project.
Projects in partnership with organisations such as local authorities and businesses will also be accepted if it is clear what control and benefit the local community has as a result of the project.
Funding up to £15,000 per project is available as Electricity North West wants to target projects which investigate or pilot new business models or ways of working, scale-up delivery of a community or local energy project or group, or projects that address specific barriers that are holding back the development of community or local energy.
Applications for the fund must be submitted by July 19 and successful applicants will be notified by September.
