Workshop encourages local applications to the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund

In May, Vattenfall hosted a community heat workshop to support applications to the Community Energy Fund, in collaboration with Bristol City Leap and Bristol Energy Network.

As part of the Bristol City Leap partnership, the £1.5 million fund seeks to support and enable community-led energy projects through a combination of grants and loans. The social value initiative is geared towards accelerating the decarbonisation of Bristol, whilst supporting community projects that deliver for local people.

The Community Energy Fund is open to a variety of projects including:

• Low carbon building improvements (control systems, draught-proofing, insulation, lighting, heating controls, more efficient heating, and hot water systems)
• Demand-side response and demand reduction (through building management systems and smart meters)
• Low carbon transport initiatives (EV charging points, car clubs)
• Electricity generation (solar heating and solar panels, heat pumps, hydroelectric)
• Support for communities to reduce their energy consumption
• Supporting heat networks (heat generation or heat connection)

This workshop specifically targeted heat related projects and offered breakout groups for heat generation and heat connection. These projects could include:

• Helping local groups gain an additional revenue stream through community-led ownership of renewable energy or heat network assets
• Using community buildings to generate low carbon electricity for your building or to power the heat network
• Funding a feasibility study for connecting your community assets to the heat network

Local organisations, such as charities, social enterprises and community energy groups play a vital role in making this happen. We would encourage local community groups in Bedminster to engage with the fund and submit an expression of interest via the Bristol City Leap website.

Find out more about the fund and how to apply.

If you have any questions or ideas for alternate models, please email bristolbusdev@vattenfall.com.