Great British Energy (GBE) is rolling out first wave of its community energy investment, allowing local authorities and community energy groups to hold a stake in clean power projects.

Solar panels on local buildings and village-owned wind farms or hydro schemes in nearby rivers will be underwritten with £30m funding that will rise to £1bn, with the idea that it could support over 1,000 community-led clean energy projects across the UK.

The ‘People’s Power’ projects will effectively be owned by community energy groups or local authorities, meaning local areas can use the revenue.

CEO of GBE Dan McGrail said: “Great British Energy is continuing to put communities at the heart of the clean energy transition with the GBE Community Fund and Partnerships Grant. Our vision is that every community should have the chance to build and own its own renewable energy. These grants will give community organisations and local authorities the practical support they need to get clean energy projects off the ground - lowering bills, supporting jobs and putting the benefits from energy into local hands.”

Alongside funding specific local power projects, the Government will also set out further details this Autumn on plans for community energy groups to be offered an ownership stake in renewable energy projects. This aims to create partnerships between communities and developers that will see proceeds of clean power flow back into local areas. It will bring Britain in line with countries like Germany and Denmark, where this type of ownership set up is already widely used.

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