Communities to benefit from Great British Energy clean energy
partnership with local government.
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Great British Energy to build clean power in every part of
the country, with a new £10 million partnership with metro
mayors
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local people will see the benefits of homegrown clean power,
greater energy security investment, and good jobs as part of
government's Plan for Change
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profits can be reinvested in the community or knock money off
people's energy bills
The metro mayors will lead the creation of innovative new clean
power projects across the country, including rooftop solar,
onshore wind and hydropower, with Great British Energy injecting
£10 million into new partnerships.
Great British Energy will
work with mayoral strategic authorities across England to
build new clean energy projects in communities, with profits
knocking money off locals' energy bills or being reinvested into
the community. The funding will help stimulate investment and
create good jobs across the country as part of the government's
Plan for Change to deliver clean power by 2030.
Each mayoral strategic authority in England will be invited to
apply for a share of the funding, as part of Great British
Energy's plans to back local energy projects across the UK so
communities can reap the benefits.
Existing local energy projects are already benefiting
communities, and this funding will help projects go further and
faster to unlock clean, homegrown power. For example, the Solar
Together Consortium that aims to deliver 240MW of solar capacity
across the West Midlands or the solar and battery storage
initiative being run by West Yorkshire mayoral combined authority
– aiming to deliver 1500 solar PV and battery storage installations on
social housing properties across the region, reducing bills for
the residents and helping to tackle fuel poverty.
Energy Minister said:
Taking back control of our energy means not only building more
solar panels and wind turbines – it also means giving our
communities a stake in their own energy supply.
We're backing our metro mayors to bid for a share of £10 million
and work with our new publicly owned company Great British Energy
to roll out more clean, homegrown power.
This could see profits invested back into vital community
services and projects, or even money knocked off community
buildings bills, giving local services more pounds in their
pockets.
Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier
said:
This is the first step in Great British Energy's work with local
communities to help them generate their own energy.
Partnering with mayoral authorities will make an immediate impact
as we work to roll out clean, homegrown energy projects, crowd in
investment and create job opportunities across the
country.
We will work closely with communities to deliver projects that
provide a lasting positive impact for the county – both in
delivering opportunities and a cleaner future for the UK.
It comes as hundreds of schools, hospitals and communities across
the UK get new rooftop solar power and renewable projects to save
money on their energy bills, thanks to a further £200 million
investment from the UK government and Great British Energy. This
includes nearly £12 million for local authorities and community
energy groups.
The funding will support the government's clean power mission as
well as helping to rebuild the nation's public services. It forms
Great British Energy's first local investment, kickstarting the
Local Power Plan and ensuring the benefits of this national
mission are felt at a local level, with energy security, good
jobs and economic growth.
Backed by £8.3 billion over this Parliament, Great British Energy
will own and invest in clean energy projects across the UK. This
will range from supporting community energy - like the local
authority and solar schemes announced today - to unlocking
significant investment in major clean energy projects that will
revitalise the UK's industrial heartlands with new jobs,
alongside securing Britain's energy supply.
Notes to editors
Funding will be awarded to projects that can be delivered in the
next year, to make an impact as quickly as possible.
