Community energy projects

About community energy

Community energy brings people together to set up renewable or clean energy projects that benefit their local area. These can include solar panels on schools or churches, heat pumps in community buildings, or heat networks in neighbourhoods.

These projects are usually set up to:

Tackle climate change
Reduce energy bills
Address inequality
Create a new community investment in local energy generation

They can also reduce reliance on the national grid and help communities become more resilient to global energy shocks.

Benefits

Community energy projects can:

Provide education, training, and employment opportunities
Promote awareness of climate change
Encourage community cohesion

Example projects

There are great examples of community energy projects across London and the UK.

One example is Brent Pure Energy, which installed solar panels on Harris Lowe Academy, a large secondary school in Willesden, north-west London. The installation includes over 600 photovoltaic panels and will save the school over £10,000 a year while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Community energy cooperative

We are supporting the creation of a new Richmond Community Energy Cooperative.

The cooperative will support local community-backed renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives and education in the borough. Once established, it will provide advice, support community engagement and help communities access funding. In the future, local people will have a chance to invest in the projects through something called a 'community share offer'.

The cooperative will function as a Community Benefit Society, a community owned, not for profit organisation run by a member elected board of directors who provide governance and strategic oversight. The board will be supported by project coordinators who manage day to day operations and delivery, and volunteers who drive local engagement, outreach, and fundraising.

Join the cooperative

The new cooperative will need directors and volunteers. An expert will support members over the first one to two years to help them build their skills, knowledge and capacity as the cooperative develops.

Community energy cooperatives are successful because they bring together a range of skills and experience. Anyone with the time and energy can get involved. Skills in governance, finance and organisation are helpful, as well as good people skills.

If you are interested in learning more, you can attend one of our events. If you have questions, email climatechange@richmond.gov.uk.

Events

From July 2026, we will host a series of community activation events led by Community Energy London. These events will introduce community energy, share learning from other boroughs and invite residents to help form the new cooperative.

They are an opportunity to learn more about community energy, our plans, and how to get involved.

Upcoming event

Event details:

Date: Thursday 23 July 2026
Time: 5.30 to 7pm
Location: Patch, 42 York St, Twickenham, TW1 3LJ

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Accelerator fund

In early 2027, we will launch the Richmond Community Energy Accelerator Fund to support feasibility studies for community energy projects in the borough. More information will be available later this year.

More information

Find out more about community energy:

Up to: Climate and nature

Updated: 01 July 2026