Islington Council is encouraging local organisations to lead the way towards a greener future by coming up with proposals to produce energy locally.

Any organisations and community groups in the borough with charitable aims can apply for grants from Islington Council’s Community Energy Fund to carry out an energy-related project they are keen to get off the ground. Initial funding is also available for groups who need to carry out feasibility studies or research to develop a new energy project or idea from scratch.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Producing energy locally has many benefits, including lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint, reducing the strain on the world’s limited natural resources. We know lots of community groups would like to be as green as possible and have great ideas about how energy could be produced locally, spreading the word on being energy-efficient, but lack the funds to do so.

“This is where our Community Energy Fund can help. This recognises that the best ideas for locally produced energy and innovation can come from the community itself. The kind of schemes that could be funded include anything from new ideas, solar panel installation, storage technologies and other renewable energy projects to upgrading windows or insulating wall cavities. You could also set up ‘energy efficiency’ advice sessions for your community to share tips that could save you, your family and neighbours hundreds of pounds, while being kinder to the planet. Community Energy Groups have an important role to play in Islington generating innovation and new ways of saving and producing local energy”

Feasibility grants of between £250 and £2,500 per project are available, and grants run up to £15,000 per project. The total fund available is £125,000, provided by the borough’s carbon offset fund – money paid by developers to offset the emissions they generate while building. The Council also wants to hear from Islington Community Energy Groups who are investment ready.

Further information on the fund and application forms can be found at www.islington.gov.uk/energy-and-pollution/energy/community-energy-fund or by contacting the Islington Council energy advice team at [email protected].