Powering Up NI Communities: New Funding for Co-operative Energy Projects

A major new opportunity has opened today for co‑operatives and community groups in Northern Ireland who want to develop their own clean energy projects. Great British Energy has launched a package of support designed to kick‑start community‑owned energy right across the UK and, crucially, this includes Northern Ireland.

For the first time, NI community co‑ops can access dedicated funding to move from good ideas to real, owned‑by‑the‑community energy assets. The new £20 million Community Fund by GB Energy offers staged grants to help you:

Test your idea — feasibility grants up to £40,000
Develop your project — investment‑ready development grants up to £100,000
Build your asset — capital grants up to £3 million (up to 50% of project costs)

Every supported project must show clear community ownership and benefit, making this fund a natural fit for community benefit societies, co‑operatives, and place‑based groups who want to generate local power and keep the value local.

Northern Ireland has had no dedicated community energy fund, until now. This is a real chance for co‑ops, BenComs, and local climate groups to take forward solar, wind, heat, or energy‑sharing projects with proper financial backing.

Applications close 12 November 2026.

Community Energy NI is here to help NI groups understand the fund, shape ideas, and prepare applications.