Community Energy Fund Launched
Devon County Council have launched a Community Energy Fund capable of awarding up to £25,000 to community energy initiatives in order to help increase the community energy sector in Devon. The deadline for funding applications is the 8th November 2021.
Community energy initiatives are a fantastic way to develop and enhance renewable energy use in the Southwest. Organizations such as Plymouth Energy Community and Exeter Community Energy empower local people to take control of their energy production, making communities less reliant on fossil fuels and keeping the profits of energy production local.
The funding offered by the Community Energy Fund may be used in one of four ways:
- To establish a community energy company in Devon – to help with set-up costs and initial work
- Upskilling the Community Energy sector – offering training for communities in order to help them to carry forward their idea for a new community energy company, or to improve work that’s already underway
- Help prepare community energy companies to make larger funding bids, for example from the Rural Community Energy Fund
- Community Retrofit Accredited Training – training people to become assessors/advisors/coordinators for retrofit advice, providing them with skills to become self-employed.
How is this helping Devon reach net-zero?
Action R5: Support immature industries with the potential to contribute to delivering a net-zero Devon.
Action R25: Anchor institutions to coordinate packages of start-up funding to community owned companies that can provide goods and services back to those institutions to stimulate local economies.
Action E1.5: Support community-owned renewable energy schemes, for example, by offering Power Purchase Agreements and/or leases for land.
