The Community Energy Fund (CEF) launches on Monday 1 December.
The fund empowers local groups to act on climate change. By providing funding for community-led energy projects, we’re helping residents:
- reduce carbon emissions
- build climate resilience
- create sustainable local energy solutions
Community energy involves collective efforts to reduce, manage, purchase or generate energy. This means having a strong focus on local leadership, engagement and shared community benefits.
You can apply for the CEF through Action Funder – a platform that matches community projects to potential funders. Read more about Action Funder
How to apply
Apply for the category that's right for your project:
- Strand 1: Innovation and Pre-Feasibility Development
- Strand 2: Feasibility and Business Case Development
- Strand 3: Training and Capability Building
- Strand 4: Project Implementation and Delivery
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 16 December.
We'll announce successful applications on 27 February.
Grant requirements
Your project funding should be within one of the following categories:
- innovation and pre-feasibility development - grants up to £5000 per project supported
- feasibility and business case development - grants up to £10,000 per project supported
- training and capability building - grants up to £5000 per project supported
- project implementation and delivery - grants capped at £15,000 per project supported
Your project must also:
- have a clear timetable for delivery and demonstrate sufficient capacity to complete the work by the proposed timetable
- propose efficient use of funding, such as leveraging other funding sources, joint procurement opportunities, partnerships and working with others to maximise impact through knowledge sharing
- demonstrate the additional benefits the proposed project will bring to the community
You should obtain quotes for the relevant works in the project as we may ask for these to help with shortlisting and demonstrating value for money.
You must aim to deliver your project by 31 March 2027.
Read about the application, including details on eligibility, on the prospectus:
About the CEF
We’re launching the Community Energy Fund as recommended by the Together for Greenwich: Co-Operation for the Future report.
This is part of the work we’re doing to meet our Carbon Neutral Plan.
It’s essential that residents, businesses and organisations take shared ownership of this plan too so we can jointly make the changes needed over the next 10 years.
The CEF aims to support the community in overcoming challenges associated with implementing energy-related projects in the borough.
Projects are expected to reduce carbon emissions. This can be through:
- generating renewable energy
- reducing consumption of energy through retrofitting activities
- encourage energy saving activity by others
- training or capacity building to create opportunities for energy consumption
The CEF is funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich Carbon Offset Fund.