Wales receives funding for community-owned energy projects
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Communities in Wales will gain financial support to develop their own clean energy sources, with Great British Energy launching a £30 million fund as the first step in a planned £1 billion investment across the UK.
The funding aims to empower local groups to build and manage projects like solar installations, wind farms, and hydroelectric schemes, keeping profits within their communities.
This initiative builds on existing Welsh Government commitments to community energy and seeks to reduce energy bills, stimulate local economies, and address climate change following a summer of record high temperatures. The new funding will allow community energy groups to accelerate their plans for locally owned clean power projects.
Local areas will have an ownership stake in renewable energy projects, ensuring that the financial benefits of clean energy flow back into towns and villages instead of going to large energy companies. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh stated that the government is putting power in the hands of people and places to encourage climate action, while Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Kinnock emphasized that the project will empower local people to lower bills and contribute to national climate efforts.
Great British Energy also plans to offer communities ownership stakes in renewable energy projects, mirroring successful models in countries like Germany and Denmark. The government will share more details on this plan this autumn. Alongside project funding, Great British Energy is providing £2.8 million to support advice services for community energy initiatives. This builds on previous investments of £9.5 million to install solar panels on public buildings in Wales.
