Community Energy Fund

The Hackney Community Energy Fund supports public institutions and not-for-profit organisations based in Hackney, such as schools, faith groups and charities, to partner with community energy groups and improve the energy efficiency of their publicly-used buildings.

Apply for the Hackney Community Energy Fund

We’re now accepting applications for round 4 of the Hackney Community Energy Fund.

There are 2 grants available:

• feasibility grants: grants of up to £12,000 (covering up to 100% of project costs) for work to investigate the fabric of a building and identify what measures would best support the organisation to reduce bills and carbon emissions
• capital grants: grants of up to £50,000 (covering up to two-thirds of project costs) for the installation of energy efficiency and renewable generation measures such as LED lighting, solar panels, energy storage units, heat pumps, windows, insulation and building management systems

Find out more about round 4 in our Hackney Community Energy Fund prospectus (Google Doc).

Who can apply

You can apply for a grant if you’re a:

• formally constituted (officially set up) charitable or voluntary community group or organisation
• registered charity or charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
• school or faith group with charitable status
• charitable company or social enterprise (companies must have asset locks, be wholly not-for-profit and without a share capital or ‘profit distribution’ clause)
• community interest company (CIC)
• company limited by guarantee (companies must have asset locks, be wholly not-for-profit and without share capital or a ‘profit distribution’ clause)
• cooperative or community benefit society

How to apply

To apply:

1. fill in the relevant application form
2. include the supporting documents for the application (these are listed in the application form)
3. email your completed application form and documents to lightandpower@hackney.gov.uk

Apply for a feasibility grant application form (Google Doc).

Apply for a capital grant application form (Google Doc).

The application period closes at 11.59pm on 27 October 2025.

If you need more information

If you need more information or have questions, there are different ways you can speak to our team.

Understanding the Hackney Community Energy Fund

The Hackney Community Energy Fund (HCEF) supports community-led innovative energy projects that:

• reduce carbon emissions
• improve the energy efficiency of buildings
• improve understanding of climate change across the borough
• grow the local community energy sector and green economy

The fund enables Hackney not-for-profit and charitable organisations to:

• reduce their energy costs
• create warmer and more efficient buildings for residents
• tackle climate change
• engage with their communities on topics relating to their project

Energy use in Hackney’s buildings is responsible for 21% of the borough’s total emissions. This includes the electricity powering lights and appliances, and the heat for warming water and spaces. The HCEF helps local not-for-profit organisations to look at:

• how to reduce their emissions, including improving the thermal performance of buildings to reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool them
• how to reduce energy demand, for example changing lighting systems 
• opportunities to generate renewable energy

Projects must:

• benefit and engage the local community
• show a demonstrable carbon-saving opportunity (either through generating renewable energy or reducing consumption of energy) 
• encourage energy-saving behaviours
• take place at eligible buildings used by the public

Our Climate Action Plan commits to delivering annual rounds of Hackney’s Community Energy Fund to support and develop multiple community groups. We expect to award the majority of funds towards capital projects.

To find out more about the fund and hear stories from people who have taken part, watch Hackney Community Energy Fund (YouTube).

The Hackney Community Energy Fund so far

The HCEF has awarded nearly £1 million in grants so far. This is one of the largest investments any council in the UK has made in community energy. 

Projects awarded in round 1 (2022) have all been successfully completed.

Projects awarded in round 2 (2023) are due for completion by the end of 2024.

Projects awarded in round 3 (2024) are being commissioned and are due for completion by the end of March 2025.

Round 4 opens in the second half of 2025, and round 5 in 2026.

Community Energy London

Hackney Light and Power is working with Community Energy London to bring groups together and grow the sector in Hackney.

We are also working with Community Energy England to identify further funding sources to help Hackney organisations in their net-zero journeys.

We encourage you to contact us if you would like support to set up a new community energy group in Hackney. We are particularly interested in hearing from young people and those who identify as being from the global majority. 

Community Energy London runs a mentoring programme for new groups, and they have created a useful how-to guide for setting up a community energy group in London.