Policy
People's Power: new funding for community-owned solar and clean energy
On 17 September 2026 Great British Energy launched its first wave of community energy funding, called People's Power projects. The press release describes it as the first downpayment on up to 1 billion pounds, aimed at more than 1,000 local and community-led clean energy projects across the UK.
The launch includes a 20 million pound Community Fund for community groups in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a 5 million pound Partnerships Grant for local authorities and community energy partners in England. To qualify, projects must show that the community holds a defined legal and financial interest and keeps a defined share of the benefits. The release also says the government will set out more on offering communities a stake in renewable energy projects later this autumn.
Applications are for groups and councils, not for households, so this does not change what a Whitstable homeowner can claim. The release points to rooftop solar on public buildings as the starting point, with 157 new rooftop solar projects installed on buildings such as fire stations and leisure centres in the mayoral combined authority areas.
Our reading is that this is a long-term signal and not a substitute for your own roof. If you own a suitable roof, a home system still pays back on your own bills, as our worked examples show. If you are in a flat with no roof of your own, a plug-in kit is a way to start, subject to the freeholder's permission and the limits on our plug-in page.
Read the source: GOV.UK (DESNZ and Great British Energy): 'People's Power' projects to give more control over local energy. Figures come from that page. Where we do our own sums we say so. The commentary is our own view, not advice.
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