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Community Energy
Understand the Community Energy connections journey, find guides and reports, see examples from other groups and get support from our Community Energy team.
What is Community Energy?
Community energy is when local people own, lead or take part in clean energy projects in their area.
This can include renewable generation such as solar, wind or hydro, as well as heat networks, retrofit programmes and energy advice. These projects can help support people facing fuel poverty, reduce demand, and bring funding and wider benefits back into local communities.
New Community Energy Scenarios Report explores the future of community energy
We've teamed up with Regen to publish new research looking at how community energy could grow over the next decade, and what that means for communities, policymakers and the wider energy sector.
It's the first time a network planning framework has been used to look at the future of community energy in this way. That gives us - and the wider sector - a new evidence base to help understand what's needed to support growth at scale.
The research looks at a range of future scenarios and points to real opportunities for community energy to grow across all four of our licence areas. It also shows that changes to policy and regulation will be critical to unlocking this potential, alongside dedicated support to help more communities get projects off the ground.
We'll use these findings to help shape our future network planning, and to build on our ongoing work supporting community energy organisations through events, guidance, innovation projects and one-to-one support.
Start your community energy journey
National Grid can help you understand the connection journey and what to do next, from early ideas through to applying and connecting. Every project is different, but most community energy schemes move through similar stages.
Select a stage to see useful actions and links.
Start project
Set up your group. Agree your purpose and who does what. Begin a simple check of sites and technology ideas.
- Pick a legal form that fits, for example a co-op or community benefit society.
- List possible sites. Check who owns them and how you’d get access.
- Speak to a few local people or groups to test the idea.
Planning
- Check the rules for your area and technology. Decide if you need full planning or if any part is permitted development.
- Ask your council for pre-application advice if you’re unsure. For bigger projects, consider a planning performance agreement.
- List the likely documents, for example drawings, statements, and any studies such as noise, visual, heritage, flood or biodiversity.
Support
Speak to National Grid early. A short call can save months later.
- Book a Community Energy appointment. Tell us about your idea and the site you’re looking at.
- We’ll explain what we need from you and outline timescales and options.
- Use our wider engagement routes and events to stay informed and ask questions.
Pre-application
Get your connection pack ready so your application is clear and complete.
- Basic drawings, including a single line diagram, site plan and equipment details.
- Your import/export needs and any plans for export limitation if required.
- Check local maps and data to understand likely capacity and constraints.
Apply
Send your application and review the offer when it arrives.
- Apply through the right route for your technology.
- Read your offer carefully: price, conditions, assumptions, and expiry date.
- Ask us questions if anything is unclear before you accept.
Build & Connect
Accept your offer, get the site ready, complete the works, and connect safely.
- Plan the works and traffic management if needed. Arrange metering.
- Complete commissioning and any required witnessing, then energise.
- Share the good news locally and set up your community benefits.
Get support from us
Community Energy across our region
State of the Sector gives an overview of community energy across the NGED region, covering the Midlands, South West and South Wales. It shows the scale of activity across the sector, from community-owned generation and EV charging to energy-efficiency work and local partnerships.
The infographic highlights some of the headline findings, including 160 community energy organisations, around 183.5GWh of community-owned electricity generated in 2024, 11,752 individuals or organisations engaged through energy-efficiency activity, and 14% of the UK’s community EV charger infrastructure located in our licence areas.
Guides and reports
Case Studies
These case studies show how community energy projects can move from early ideas and funding through to planning, partnerships, connection and long-term local benefit.
Our commitment to Community Energy
Community energy brings people together to shape a cleaner, fairer and more resilient energy future.
We support community energy groups because they help local people play an active role in generating clean energy, improving efficiency, reducing demand and bringing long-term benefits back into their communities.
We are strengthening our support by working more closely with community energy groups, sector bodies and local partners.
Through events, guidance, case studies and Community Energy appointments we are helping groups engage with us earlier, understand the connection process and learn from other communities.
Dave Witherspoon, Community Energy Manager, National Grid Electricity Distribution
