The Energy Learning Network
Rhwydwaith Addysg Ynni
The Energy Learning Network is powering forward community energy projects across the UK – helping more groups launch or grow schemes that decarbonise the grid, create resilience, reduce energy bills, and create meaningful benefits for local people.
The network will share learning and support collaboration between communities acting on energy, as well as between the organisations that support them across the UK. We will also bring free insights, resources and connections to existing community energy groups, as well as to communities looking to become involved in local energy projects for the first time. It will create mentoring and peer learning opportunities too.Â
The Network
The network is a collaboration between climate solutions charity Ashden, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, and leading community energy bodies in every UK nation: Community Energy England, Community Energy Scotland, Community Energy Wales and Northern Ireland’s Action Renewables.
Visit the website of your local community energy membership organisation for more resources to help you on your community energy journey. Centre for Sustainable Energy also have a raft of resources and guidance which will help you wherever you are based in the UK.
Our Goals
Energy Learning Network members are driving rapid progress on community energy in every UK nation.Â
By sparking collaboration and knowledge sharing, the network empowers them to make their activities even more impactful and inclusive.Â
Increase the scale and impact of community energy through collaboration.
We are bringing together organisations around the UK working in and supporting community energy, to share insights and best practice from a broad range of successful initiatives. This includes highlighting how projects can best meet local needs and deliver local value.Â
Make community energy resources more accessible.
We are creating new reports and guides, and promoting existing materials, that help communities take their project from initial idea to delivery. This work will include making sure communities have clear ‘roadmaps’ to develop projects that meet local needs.Â
Spark action in more communities, and make existing projects more inclusive.
The network’s support helps diverse communities across the UK understand how local energy can create benefits for them, and encourages them to get involved for the first time. And we’re helping existing community groups broaden their reach and work in a more inclusive way. With these approaches, the network helps marginalised and disadvantaged communities benefit from the clean energy transition.Â
Secure more funding and create better delivery conditions for the community energy sector.
We will assist partner organisations to grow their capacity to support the sector, and boost their impact and efficiency through collaboration and common approaches. We will identify opportunities to bring new finance into the sector, and to shape the conditions that help schemes thrive and deliver maximum local value. Â
We will bring together leading capacity building organisations to address common barriers and gaps in support in order to facilitate an investible and sustainable pipeline of community energy projects. Â
By also ensuring that skills and knowledge are grown and kept within the local area, we will help to build a more sustainable business model for community organisations.Â
Why charge up community energy?
Community energy is about people and communities taking democratic control over their energy future; generating, owning, using and saving energy in their communities, as well as working together across regions and nations. Projects give people the chance to work with their neighbours to lower bills and reduce energy demand too.
The UK Government has set out its ambition to become a clean energy superpower, with 95% of its electricity generation coming from renewable and nuclear power by 2030.
It also aims to achieve this in a way that gives local people a stake in the transition to net zero, and ensures UK taxpayers, bill payers and communities benefit.
A strong community energy sector can play a huge part in achieving these goals: by delivering locally owned, democratically run energy projects that bring positive change to their local area. Benefits like new work and training opportunities, or action on fuel poverty.
Schemes in the UK already generate 617 GWh of clean energy – enough to power more than 220,000 homes – and have supported householders to make annual savings of nearly £4.5million.
Community energy generates localised and long-term benefits, creating a fairer society and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. The community energy sector can also play a crucial role in building public support and acceptance for the rapid changes needed to meet the UK’s 2030 energy target.
Events
The Energy Learning Network delivers UK-wide and country-specific online events to share learning and best practice.
Events primarily support community energy organisations to learn from each other and outside experts who can help them develop their projects. Less frequently, we host events for other key stakeholders – such as local authorities.
Resources
Discover useful resources created with Energy Learning Network funding.
Briefing paper on the value of a community energy approach
Short briefing paper to the social, economic and environmental value of a community energy approach.
Energy Learning Network mentoring handbook
A guide to being an ELN mentor.
The case for community energy
Understanding the added value of a community energy approach and why support for community energy is vital for the success of the UK’s transition to net zero.
Community Energy in Action: Demonstrating the value of community-led solutions to net zero
The energy transition is not just about infrastructure and technology – it is about people, fairness, and building a future where everyone benefits. Community energy is one of the most effective ways to ensure that decarbonisation strengthens communities rather than leaving them behind.
A guide to evidencing theimpact of community energy
Community energy organisations play a vital role in shaping a more sustainable, fair,and locally driven energy future. But how can you effectively demonstrate the realdifference your work makes?
The Value of Community Energy: a digest of supporting evidence for the Energy Learning Network
This document, produced by Saskya Huggins on behalf of the Energy Learning Network, it supports our full report on the social, economic and environmental value of a community energy approach.
Further resources can be found on our partner websites:
A Climate Action Fund project
It’s made possible by four years of funding, totaling £1.5 million, from the National Lottery Community Fund.
This grant comes from the Climate Action Fund, a £100 million commitment over 10 years from The National Lottery Community Fund to support communities across the UK to take action on climate change and involve more people in climate action. This forms part of one of the funder’s four key missions in its 2030 strategy, ‘It starts with community’ – supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable.