The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out an ambitious vision for transitioning the UK to clean, renewable energy by 2030. Within this broader framework, community energy projects are highlighted as contributors to local prosperity, energy resilience, and engagement with the green economy. However, a closer look reveals that while the role of community energy is acknowledged, its place in the overall strategy is far from central. This post explores the realities, context, and challenges for community energy groups in the plan.
Support for Local and Community Energy Projects
At its core, the plan acknowledges the importance of community and local renewable energy. Community projects are seen as tools to deliver tangible, localised benefits like reduced bills and energy independence, with support promised through Great British Energy (GBE), the newly established public energy company.
As stated:
“GBE (Great British Energy) will partner with, and provide funding and support to Local Authorities, Mayoral Combined Authorities, Community Energy Groups and others… to roll out local and community energy projects (mainly onshore wind and solar) to develop up to 8 GW of clean power in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.” (p. 78)
This sounds encouraging, but there’s a critical point to note: the 8 GW target applies to all local and community projects across the UK, including large-scale initiatives. While community energy groups are included, they share this capacity with larger stakeholders, raising concerns about how much of this target will realistically be attributed to smaller, community-led projects. Without clearer safeguards or dedicated allocations, there is a risk that community energy groups could be overshadowed, limiting their role in reaching this target.
Driving Local Benefits
The plan makes a compelling case for the benefits of community energy, framing it as a driver of local engagement, economic opportunity, and trust in renewable energy.
The report notes:
“Local and community power generation can contribute significantly to the prosperity of local places, driving down electricity bills, encouraging people to engage with the green economy, providing energy resilience, and promoting skilled jobs.” (p. 78)
The focus on local prosperity and energy resilience is important, as these are often core motivations for community energy projects. However, there is little detail on how the government will actively prioritise or incentivise community-led initiatives over larger, commercial projects.
Funding and Partnership Opportunities
The Local Power Plan is a promising initiative, aiming to restructure the energy economy by empowering local energy generation. Community energy groups are named as key partners in this effort:
“GBE’s Local Power Plan will support the rollout of renewable energy projects using established technologies to contribute up to 8 GW of clean, homegrown energy.” (p. 48)
However, a critical omission is the lack of specific funding allocations for community energy groups. While the Local Power Plan offers opportunities, it does not clearly outline how much funding will be directed to smaller, community-led projects versus larger local authority initiatives. For community energy groups, this ambiguity raises concerns about whether they will receive meaningful financial support.
Removing Barriers to Deployment
The plan recognises that community energy projects face significant obstacles, including complex planning processes and regulatory hurdles. To address this, the government promises reforms:
“Alongside the work of GBE, government is also taking specific actions to remove barriers to, and further the deployment of, local energy.” (p. 78)
These reforms include updates to planning and consenting regimes to streamline project approval. While this is a positive step, the document does not go into detail about how these changes will directly benefit smaller, community-led projects as opposed to larger infrastructure developments. For many community groups, these barriers remain a major challenge that could limit their capacity to participate meaningfully.
Community Engagement and Benefits
A key principle in the plan is ensuring that communities hosting clean energy infrastructure see direct benefits. The government pledges to introduce guidance on community benefits to improve fairness and consistency:
“This government believes that it is a vital principle that communities that host clean energy infrastructure should benefit from it.” (p. 67)
This is an important acknowledgment of the need to share benefits with local people. However, the focus here seems more geared towards communities hosting large-scale infrastructure projects rather than smaller, community-led initiatives. For community energy groups, this raises questions about whether the guidance will include specific measures to strengthen support for their efforts.
A Supportive but Peripheral Role
While the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan recognises the value of community energy projects, they remain somewhat on the sidelines of the broader strategy. The plan’s main focus lies on large-scale renewable deployment—such as offshore wind, grid expansion, and industrial-scale projects—which are central to achieving the 2030 targets.
Community energy is framed as a complementary effort, offering local benefits and engaging citizens in the green transition. However:
- There are no explicit funding commitments for community energy groups.
- The 8 GW local energy target includes large-scale initiatives, leaving community-led projects in competition for resources.
- Barriers to deployment are acknowledged but not specifically addressed for smaller organisations.
Moving Forward: What Community Energy Groups Need
For community energy to thrive and play a larger role in the clean energy transition, the following steps are critical:
Dedicated Funding: Clear, ring-fenced financial support for community energy groups to ensure they are not overshadowed by larger projects.
Streamlined Processes: Planning and consenting reforms tailored to the needs of smaller, community-led initiatives.
Capacity Building: Support for skills, resources, and expertise to enable community groups to compete effectively for funding and deliver projects at scale.
Recognition in Policy: A stronger emphasis on community energy as a key pillar of the clean energy strategy, rather than a complementary effort.
Conclusion
The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan provides a broad and ambitious roadmap for the UK’s clean energy future. While community energy is acknowledged as a valuable contributor, its role remains peripheral to the main focus on large-scale infrastructure. For community energy groups, the path forward will depend on clearer funding commitments, targeted policy support, and a stronger recognition of their potential to drive localised, resilient clean power solutions.
The ambition for clean power is there, but community energy groups must push to ensure their voices are heard and their contributions recognised as integral to the UK’s energy transition.
