Energy Learning Network looking to work with local councils
A new network, which has been launched to provide support to community energy groups across the UK, is looking to work with between five and 10 local councils to help deliver community energy activities in their area.
The Energy Learning Network is new £1.5m partnership which aims to boost new and existing community energy schemes across UK, helping to decarbonise the grid and create benefits for local people.
Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the network is a collaboration between climate solutions charity Ashden, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Community Energy England, Community Energy Scotland, Community Energy Wales, and Northern Ireland’s Action Renewables.
Recognising that local councils are perfectly placed to encourage and support community energy schemes through engagement with local people, the network is looking to work closely with a number of local councils across the UK who are looking to help deliver community energy in their area.
Any councils interested in taking part need to submit an expression of interest form before 17th September.
The selected councils will work with the Centre for Sustainable Energy over the next two years to support the growth of skills and knowledge to enable and deliver community energy projects in their area.
Participating councils will be expected to attend six 90-minute, online workshops between November 2024 and March 2026, and subsequently take forward the actions identified in the workshops, with ongoing support from the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
Community energy projects have sprung up prodigiously over recent years. In 2023 over there were 583 community energy organisations in the UK, saving a total of £4.4million on energy bills, and preventing the emission of 165,980 tonnes of CO2.
The Energy Learning Network will provide these groups with free insights, resources and connections, while supporting other community groups who might be looking at involving themselves in local energy projects for the first time.
Ashden CEO Ashok Sinha said: ‘The power of community energy is extraordinary: bringing more renewables online, and giving more people the chance to get involved in positive climate action.
‘This leads to big local benefits, like new jobs in the green economy, as well as solutions matched to the needs of local communities. So it’s crucial that we boost the growth of community energy right across the country, but particularly in disadvantaged areas.
‘Ashden is very grateful for this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, and delighted to work in partnership with such an established and respected group of organisations who support the community energy sector across the UK. This UK-wide partnership will build on fantastic work that is already underway. Together, we will support the sector to together go further faster, in our creation of a just and resilient clean energy system.’
Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: ‘The Energy Learning Network is a perfect example of effective collaboration and knowledge sharing in the pursuit of a carbon-free future. It puts communities at the heart of its plans, empowering them to take action on climate change for the benefit of everyone.
‘We know that climate change matters to communities, so it matters to us. I encourage other climate focused community projects to consider applying to our funding programmes.’
Photo: Ashden
