Energy in Your Community helps local people explore the possibilities offered by community-owned renewable energy together. If you’re new to the idea, find out what community energy is and learn how other communities have made it work. We can talk through every aspect of the journey, from interest in community-owned energy to getting help with the technical factfinding process - while always keeping your community in control of the decisions you choose to make.
We guide you through a clear, step-by-step knowledge sharing journey, at your pace, so you always know what happens next - from first conversations to finding out what makes a location suitable for renewable power generation.
At every stage, your community stays in control:
- You make the decisions that matter
- You choose how to spend or invest any benefits in your community
Why community energy?
Community-owned projects aren’t like commercial energy projects, they're different:
- Transparent and community-led
You make the decisions. - Tailored to your priorities
Every conversation reflects what matters most in your area. - Profits reinvested locally
Surplus funds support community projects. - Delivering community benefits
Funding local initiatives, improving sustainability, and creating social impact. - Owned by the community
The power (and the benefit) stays in your hands.
How we can help
We’ll help you turn good ideas into real, deliverable projects by providing:
- Clear, accessible information
You don’t need to be an expert. - Expert support
From first ideas to gaining the funding needed for detailed technical factfinding reports. - Funding guidance
We’ll help you find and apply for the right grants. - Careful studies
Every project considers local heritage and wildlife.
Many people in Bath and North East Somerset already support local renewables. We make it easier to join in.
Your journey
You don’t need to figure everything out at once. We’ll walk you through a clear, step-by-step journey:
- First conversations
Meeting with local parish councils and climate groups - Community workshops and surveys
Exploring what's possible and making sure every voice is heard - Applying for funding to cover further investigations
If your community chooses to find out more, we can help you get the technical information you'll need, to see if there's anywhere in your area that's suitable for renewable power generation
Our commitment to you
Energy in Your Community projects create space for everyone to be heard and move forward together. We care about what makes your area special, and we can help you build clean energy projects that benefit your community for generations to come.
Communities we’re already working with
Energy in Your Community is currently focusing on six communities in Bath and North East Somerset.
- Three communities were chosen through an expression of interest in 2025.
- Three others took part in a pilot workshop in 2022, and we're continuing to work with them. You can read a summary of the discussions, ideas, and insights that emerged from those initial workshops in our 2022 Renewable Energy Conversation Findings report.
Together, they reflect a range of local priorities and opportunities.
These communities are:
- Peasedown, Wellow and Shoscombe
- Batheaston and St. Catherine area
- Stowey Sutton and East and West Harptree (project page coming soon)
- Temple Cloud and Hinton Blewitt (project page coming soon)
- Twerton and Whiteway (project page coming soon)
- Radstock and Westfield (project page coming soon)
If you live in one of the areas we're talking with and would like to get involved, email us at Community_Energy@bathnes.gov.uk.
Get involved
Even if your area hasn't started its own community energy journey of discovery yet, you can still keep in touch with what we're doing and have your say:
- Join events and workshops, share your views and help shape decisions.
- Sign up to the Community Energy Network newsletter, and stay up to date with opportunities near you.