Community Energy Fund

The 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 to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.

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, including by changing lighting systems for example
• 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

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 to 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.

We expect to open round 4 in the second half of 2025.

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.