Showing our support for community energy conference

Communities from across the country interested in cheaper energy bills and sustainable grassroots energy generation will be converging on Bristol next week – and we’ll be there to support them.

They’ll be in the city to collaborate, learn and share information at the Community Energy England Summer conference on 1 July, which we are sponsoring.

They are part of a growing movement of community-owned groups that are driving local energy transformation towards net zero.

Nationwide there are more than 580 community energy groups who between them generate renewable energy, provide low carbon transport or give energy efficiency advice. This helped consumers save £4.4 million on their energy bills in 2023 and produced enough clean electricity to power 228,000 homes.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP will be a keynote speaker for the event, and NGED representatives will be attending to provide guidance for community energy groups on how they can connect to the electricity grid.

David Witherspoon, NGED’s community energy manager, said: “We are really looking forward to meeting the wide range of community energy groups and organisations at the event, to listen to some of the great work that our communities do helping us all work towards net zero.

“Our vision is to enable this sector, so we also want to hear where the groups are facing challenges so we can provide support. This is a great opportunity for us as we look to collaborate with community energy groups to ensure no one is left behind in the push towards net zero.”

Emma Bridge, Chief Executive of Community Energy England, said: "One of our new strategic priorities is to increase demand for collaborating and investing in community energy.

“We are pleased to be working with National Grid Electricity Distribution to deliver our summer conference. This partnership will help us to continue to strengthen connections across the community, private and public sectors and will bring further insight to our event.”

The conference marks the start of Community Energy Fortnight, a celebration of people-powered energy.