Greenwich Community Energy Fund - Strand 1: Innovation and Pre-Feasibility Development
Fund details & criteria
Fund purpose
Strand 1 - Innovation and Pre-Feasibility Development Fund purpose The Community Energy Investigation Fund is designed to support early exploratory work that helps community groups assess the potential for future carbon-reducing energy projects. The fund enables organisations within the borough to apply for financial support to investigate the suitability of renewable technologies and energy solutions, helping build stronger community responses to the climate emergency and supporting the development of local, low-carbon energy systems. Community energy focuses on collective action to generate, manage, purchase, or reduce energy use. Projects should demonstrate strong local engagement and leadership, ensuring that benefits are shared within the community. Projects should clearly show how they will contribute to future carbon reduction. This could include exploring renewable energy possibilities, assessing retrofit potential, encouraging behaviour change around energy consumption, or providing initial training and capacity-building to support ongoing energy-saving activity. Funding can support early-stage investigation and feasibility activity, such as: • Surveys and assessments to determine the viability of renewable technologies (e.g. community building heating systems) • Solar PV capacity assessments across community-owned sites • Early research to identify projects with the strongest potential to progress to development • Technical studies and exploratory work for groups new to community energy Who can apply? ✔ Community organisations and voluntary groups ✔ Charitable organisations ✔ Social enterprises and community interest companies ✔ Other eligible local groups working for community benefit Proposals should: ✅ Demonstrate how they support long-term carbon reduction and climate resilience ✅ Benefit the local community ✅ Have a clear and achievable project plan ✅ Offer value for money Applicants should provide quotes for relevant works and professional services as part of the application to demonstrate value for money. Key Information 📅 Fund launch date: Monday 1st December 📝 Application deadline: Friday 16th January 2026 💵 Minimum grant: £1,000 | Maximum grant: £5,000 📍 Location: Across the borough (no zonal allocation) For further info: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/help-money/apply-grant-community-energy-fund