GBE Community Fund

The fund gives grant funding in stages, as your project develops. You apply for the stage your project is ready for.

Not every project goes through every stage. The feasibility stage acts as an early decision point, helping applicants understand whether a project is sufficiently viable to justify progression to the next stage of development. 

You can apply if you are a community organisation set up to run energy projects for local benefit. You must be a legally constituted, incorporated community organisation based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Your project must be designed to be at least 50% community owned when operational.

Eligible organisations include community benefit societies, community interest companies, co-operative societies, development trusts and registered charities. See the fund guidance for the full list.

The GBE Community Fund is open in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, Great British Energy is supporting community energy through investment in CARES programmes delivered by Local Energy Scotland.

Applications are made through our application form.

The application window is open for 8 weeks.

You can get help with your application before you apply:

• In England, your Local Net Zero Hub can give tailored advice and review your draft application.
• In Wales, support is available through the Welsh Government Energy Service.
• In Northern Ireland, support is available through Advice NI.

Read the full fund guidance and download the application materials here.

We check eligibility first, then score applications on organisational capacity and governance, project viability and deliverability, community ownership and benefit, finance and value for money, and risk management. We aim for a good geographical spread and to include areas that have had less support.

We look at the benefits a project could create, including community ownership, local reinvestment, lower energy costs where applicable, and long-term value for the area.

Grimsby Community Energy. received £99,000 from the GBE Community Fund to develop and install renewable energy projects, lowering local energy bills and reinvesting profits into local people and community organisations.