The Co-operative Community Energy Challenge

Looking to set up a community-owned renewable project? Need some help? Then the Community Energy Challenge could be just what you’re looking for.

 

The Community Energy Challenge is a bold new initiative by The Cooperative that will support a powerful set of community energy projects and help unleash a clean energy revolution across the UK. The Co-operative is seeking six to eight ambitious communities keen to develop projects that involve local people, change the way we think about energy, and inspire others to shape a renewable energy future.

 

The Community Energy Challenge will provide 12-18 months of enterprise development, mentoring, technical advice and community facilitation for six to eight communities, enabling them to initiate co-operative renewable energy projects at a significant scale (e.g. valued at £1m to £3m and/or rated in excess of 500kW). This support is being delivered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy on behalf of The Co-operative Group and aims to bring the selected community projects to a state of readiness for further support and investment from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and The Co-operative Bank.

 

The Community Energy Challenge offers a supported application process designed to help communities develop strong project proposals, even from a standing start. Lack of technical know-how should not be a barrier and communities with ambition are encouraged to apply.

 

The Community Energy Challenge will operate a competitive bid process. All applications will be carefully evaluated and the final selection made by an expert panel.

 

The deadline for expressions of interest is 29 February 2012. See www.cse.org.uk/coopenergychallenge for more details.