Community Energy

Supporting Communities to Act on Energy  

Thanks to National Lottery players, Ashden Climate Solutions has received £1.5m over four years from The National Lottery Community Fund. This funding supports the Energy Learning Network, a new initiative led by Ashden, in partnership with Community Energy England, Community Energy Scotland, Community Energy Wales, Action Renewables & the Centre for Sustainable Energy.

The Energy Learning Network will deliver free insights, resources & connections to existing community energy groups, as well as other community groups looking to get involved. The community sector already tackles the climate crisis & fuel poverty through local energy projects, from solar installations to energy advice. The network will fill those gaps in support by creating & promoting UK-wide resources for establishing, developing & delivering community energy projects. It will also offer peer mentoring & shared learning opportunities.

This grant comes from the Climate Action Fund, a £100m commitment from The National Lottery Community Fund to support community climate action. This aligns with their 2030 strategy, ‘It starts with community’ – supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable. 

The Energy Learning Network

We are a National Lottery funded programme, designed to share knowledge & resources across the UK to support & develop community energy. Working alongside our partners, Action Renewables will lead the efforts for Northern Ireland, promoting understanding & engagement with sustainable energy.

Our Mission

We are committed to:

• Connect – sharing best practice & collaborative opportunity
• Educate – providing clear information on renewable energy & efficiency
• Empower – equipping communities with tools for impactful projects
• Inspire – encouraging participation in reducing carbon footprints
• Promote Inclusivity – removing barriers to diverse engagement in the energy transition

Why Community Energy Matters

Community energy should be at the forefront of Northern Ireland’s energy transition. It enables local control over energy, keeping benefits within the communities themselves and building a collective environmental responsibility. The Energy Learning Network is passionate about supporting community-led projects by providing the foundational knowledge needed to develop & deliver your project.

Our Vision for Success

• A thriving, well-supported community energy movement across Northern Ireland, bridging gaps in support, funding & expertise
• Increased knowledge & skills for local communities to deliver projects with lasting benefits
• Equipping communities with tools for sustainable long-term success

Join Our Network

Interested in finding out how you & your community can get involved? We are here to support you. Explore our resources, learn from our insights & become a part of the conversation towards a more sustainable energy future.

Collaborate with the ELN

The Energy Learning Network is more than a partnership of organisations; it is shared infrastructure for the UK community energy sector, helping collaborators to share learning, avoid duplication, identify gaps and work together in ways that strengthens the sector as a whole UK wide.

To explore collaboration opportunities with the Energy Learning Network in Northern Ireland, contact the Action Renewables Energy Learning Network Manager,  Jack Stewart  – opportunities include:

• Use of the network as a platform to share your learning – become a paid peer mentor or co-deliver webinars and events.
• Partner on our Community Energy resource directory – add your resources to increase uptake and get access to insights to develop your resources.
• Collaborate on Projects to Reduce Barriers and Accelerate Learning for Community Energy, or explore joint tender opportunities with us.

The Energy Learning Network is powering forward community energy projects across the UK, and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.