Community Energy

Community energy projects allow local people to work together to create and support installation of green, renewable energy sources and reduce energy demand within their own community. In 2022, Community Energy England said:

  • 217,489 people were engaged in community energy.
  • £3.35 million saved on energy bills from the latest activities in efficiency & fuel poverty.
  • 143,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved in one year of work by communities.

Traditionally, energy has been centralised with large power facilities such as fossil fuel power plants. The country is now in an energy transition, as we move towards decentralised, cleaner and smaller producing systems like solar photovoltaic (electricity) systems, and changing the fossil-fuel using appliances like cars and heating to electric.

Community groups across the country are helping their communities to transition. Quick win projects can include:

Long-term projects can include:

If you are interested in being involved in Community Energy within West Lancashire, please email: CommunityEnergy@Westlancs.gov.uk

If you would like to receive information about future community energy group meetings, please fill in this form and email it to CommunityEnergy@WestLancs.gov.uk 

 

Need Support? 

New and existing community energy groups can access a variety of support to help them on their journeys:

North West Net Zero Hub (External Link) - The hubs provide free strategic and technical support to the public sector and communities to develop, finance and deliver net zero energy projects and attract commercial investment, including alignment to Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan.

Community Energy England (external link) - Community Energy England are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping community energy organisations create and implement new projects by advocating for a policy landscape that will support community energy and providing opportunities for community energy practitioners to connect, learn, share business models and help each other overcome obstacles. 

Also visit Community Energy England's Top 10 Guide to Getting Started (External link)

Within West Lancashire there are two Distribution Network Operators (DNO), they are responsible for maintaining and upgrading overheard power lines and underground electricity cables, and are also key to transforming the way electricity is made, used and stored. they are:

  1. SP Electricity North West (external link) - SP Electricity North West (SPENW) are a DNO that covers most of the northwest region and most of West Lancashire. 
  2. Scottish Power Energy Network (external link) - Scottish Power Energy Network (SPEN) are a DNO who cover areas of throughout Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Shropshire, and a small part of West Lancashire. 

If you have a Community Energy project, you will need to engage with the DNO to make sure the electricity network can support it. Find out who the DNO is by entering the project postcode into Who is my supplier? SP Electricity North West (external link)

West Lancashire CVS (external link) - West Lancashire Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) is a charity and is the key infrastructure organisation for voluntary and community groups in West Lancashire. The West Lancashire CVS's main activities are:

  • Providing information and support to voluntary organisations
  • Helping local people to set up and develop voluntary and community groups, and network with other organisations
  • Representing voluntary and community groups to statutory and other organisations, and partnerships

 

Planning Applications for Community Groups

Community energy projects offer a powerful way for local groups to take control of their energy future, reduce carbon emissions, and have the potential to generate income for reinvestment in local priorities. However, navigating the planning system is a critical early step in turning these ambitions into reality. 

Understanding the planning landscape is essential not just for compliance, but for building local trust and ensuring long-term success. Community groups should engage early with their Local Planning Authority (LPA), consult residents, and consider how their project aligns with local development plans (external link). West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC) is the LPA for West Lancashire, and the planning team have web pages which provide information on many aspects of the council's services, including how to apply for planning permission (external link).

Does your project need planning permission?

Initially, the Planning Portal (External Link) has a 'Common Projects' page (external link) for advice on whether planning is needed for specific types of development, including many projects which may be considered by a community energy group. See below for links:

Click the project you are considering for more details:

Pre-Application Advice – WLBC link

WLBC encourages early conversations which can help shape proposals to better meet planning requirements, saving time and money, and reducing frustration. They also help identify and revise or drop ideas that are unlikely to be approved.

Applying for planning permission – WLBC link

After considering the project type and pre-application advice, you may now start the process of applying for planning permission. This can be completed through the online planning portal (External Link). Planning application forms (external link) can support your submission and help the LPA get clarity of your proposal; this will ensure an efficient and timely decision.

Sometimes, you may need to consult Building Regulations and Control (WLBC Link) too.