Dorset Community Energy is celebrating the launch of the long-awaited Local Power Plan, which commits £1 billion to support the growth of community-owned renewable energy: according to the government, “the biggest public investment in community energy in this country’s history”.
The aim of the Plan is to enable every community in the UK to have the opportunity and capacity to own a local energy project and directly share in its benefits, marking a significant step toward a community-led just transition.
This will be delivered through a combination of grants, loans, advice, expert help and targeted investment. It also proposes action to tackle regulatory and technical barriers, such as giving communities fair access to energy markets.
The Plan also includes proposals for greater collaboration between local authorities and community energy groups through the new Partnership Fund. Dorset Community Energy looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Dorset Council and BCP Council, and to working with Great British Energy to help deliver the ambitions of the Local Power Plan.
At its heart, the Plan promises to support shared, local ownership of renewable energy projects, putting communities, rather than large energy companies, at the centre of the clean energy transition.
So what does this mean for communities across Dorset?
Since its founding in 2013, Dorset Community Energy has been delivering community-owned renewable energy infrastructure across the county. Over the last decade the not-for-profit social enterprise has installed 30 solar PV installations across schools, hospitals and community buildings – financed through community share investment.
These projects have generated over 8000 MWh of clean energy, enough electricity to power 2,400 homes, saving local communities almost £1 million in energy bills and preventing around 2000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. All surpluses are channeled back into local projects through a Community Fund.
The Local Power Plan creates real potential to expand the work of Dorset Community Energy – keeping the financial benefits of clean power local, building community wealth, lowering bills, strengthening local energy resilience, tackling fuel poverty and reinvesting back into our neighbourhoods.
The Plan recognises the power of community energy and marks progress in tackling some of the long-standing barriers to community ownership. If the ambition of the Plan is matched by delivery, this could be a great turning point in how energy is generated, owned and shared – creating more resilient and equitable local energy futures.