‘Biggest in history’: £1bn community energy investment to build community wealth

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Communities across Wales are set to gain greater control over their energy supplies following the launch of the UK Government’s Local Power Plan, backed by up to £1 billion in funding for locally owned clean energy projects.

Published today (10 February) by Great British Energy and the UK Government, the plan represents the biggest public investment in community energy in British history.

It is designed to support projects such as solar installations on community buildings including libraries, leisure centres and social clubs, with the aim of cutting energy bills and generating long-term revenue for local areas.

Great British Energy has already invested nearly £9.5 million in community and public sector energy projects across Wales over the past year, with funding delivery overseen by the Welsh Government.

Projects include rooftop solar installations for schools in Wrexham and Newport, a new solar scheme at Big Pit Museum in Pontypool expected to save more than £280,000 in energy costs over its lifetime, and a project at Neath’s Road Management Depot projected to deliver savings of more than £910,000 for the local council.

The funding is also supporting the Ymestyn scheme, which helps public sector bodies and communities develop and deliver more ambitious decarbonisation projects, including solar canopies, battery energy storage and renewable installations for schools.

The Local Power Plan aims to support more than 1,000 clean energy projects nationally, contributing to the UK’s target of clean power by 2030 while improving energy security and reducing costs for billpayers.

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “Britain’s drive for clean energy is about answering the call for a different kind of economy that works for the many, not just the wealthy and powerful in our society. Local and community energy is at the heart of our government’s vision.

“With the biggest ever investment in community energy in Britain’s history, this government is saying to every local community: we want you to be able to own and control clean energy so the profits flow into your community not simply out to the big energy companies.

“By giving local people the chance to take control of their energy, this government is making a fundamental choice to transfer wealth and power back to communities across Britain.”

Great British Energy CEO, Dan McGrail, said: “Communities are at the heart of Great British Energy’s mission. Local and community projects create cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy for our communities.

“We are investing up to £1 billion into community and local energy projects so that people up and down the country can feel the benefit of public ownership with purpose.”

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said: “This transformative plan means that communities in every part of Wales can take charge of their own energy supplies, helping to cut bills and providing a valuable source of revenue.

“The UK Government is working with the Welsh Government to make sure everyone in Wales benefits from the revolution in clean energy, whether that’s through creating jobs in the growing clean energy sector or investing in shared community energy projects.”

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