Community Energy Fund

Devon County Council has launched a new fund to support the Community Energy sector in Devon

What is Community Energy?

Community-led energy projects bring people together to secure the energy supply for their local area. The Community Energy sector encompasses collective action at a local level to reduce, purchase, manage and generate energy, ultimately enabling the local community to benefit collectively from the outcomes.

Activity can include reducing demand, improving energy efficiency or increasing the amount of energy generated from low-carbon and renewable sources.

Community Energy Fund

The Community Energy Fund was set up to support the recovery of businesses and the wider economy of Devon following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The key objective of this fund is to support, develop and fund a small number of high-quality Community Energy initiatives that will help to advance and strengthen the Community Energy sector in Devon.

Grants were provided to voluntary, community and public-sector organisations across Devon to help support Community Energy initiatives that:

  • improve the capacity of existing community energy companies in Devon to develop successful community energy projects
  • increase the number of community energy companies in Devon
  • provide accredited training that helps to move the community energy sector forward, particularly accredited retrofit training
  • increase public awareness of the benefits of community energy

Successful Projects

Six projects were successful in receiving funding to create new energy companies, deliver additional training places, and engage communities in the Community Energy sector. These were:

  • Regen South West and Devon Energy CollectivePower Allotments – this project created an online toolkit for use by Devon’s citizens to identify potential sites for renewable energy sites that Regen will then analyse and prioritise for future opportunities
  • Exeter Community Energy – this project recruited and trained additional Home Energy Advisors, Retrofit Coordinators, Retrofit Assessors, and Community Energy Champions to increase organisational capacity and deliver energy efficiency advice and solutions
  • Heart of Devon Community Energy – Community Wind Turbine project has set up a new Community Interest Company to engage citizens and do feasibility work to bring forward a new, community owned wind turbine in Mid Devon
  • South Dartmoor Community Energy – Equipping for Retrofit Rollout – this project has upskilled members of the SDCE Team to deliver complex retrofit advice that aligns with provision across the County
  • Tamar Energy Community – Retrofit Service Ready – this project has delivered tailored retrofit advice to enable the TEC Team to become accredited Retrofit Advisors, Assessors, and Coordinators
  • Totnes Renewable Energy Society – Solar Roofs and Energy Local Clubs – this project has developed community owned solar PV installations and established a Totnes Energy Local Club to buy this power, lowering energy costs for local residents

Can I apply?

The Community Energy Fund is now closed to applications with the full funding amount allocated.