Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is now welcoming applications for this year’s Powering Communities to Net Zero fund.
The fund will award £3million in shareholder-funded grants by 2028.
It has 2 categories:
- Physical and environmental resilience – to help during storms
To help fund the purchase of Low-Carbon Technologies
Last year, SSEN Distribution awarded £517,000 to 39 projects in its central southern England licence area. Of the 39 projects awarded funding, 13 were specific to LCT, 22 to Resilience and 4 were a combination of both.
On the Isle of Wight, Ryde Town Council was awarded £10,355 to purchase flood prevention measures to increase resilience and support recovery after storm damage.
Community-led physical and environmental resilience grants
Last winter brought Storms Darragh and Éowyn – and with them some of the strongest winds in a decade. These storms were a reminder of the more volatile climate we’re all now living in, and the need to make the right preparations in response. Just over half of the coming year’s funding allocation will be to enable communities to apply for grants that will fund physical and environmental resilience measures. Grants of up to £15,000 will be awarded to successful applicants in this category, and further details of the criteria can be found in the fund guidance.
Low-carbon technology grants
The remaining share of the fund will be available for non-profit organisations to apply for grants to go towards the purchase of new Low-Carbon Technologies.
For example, a successful grant application could result in a social housing scheme or community centre being awarded funding to contribute to the cost of EV chargers, solar panels, battery storage or backup, low-carbon heating systems, or smart heating controls.
Applicants who’ve already carried out an energy audit to provide recommendations for what to install and to give an idea of potential cost savings will be considered favourably. Funding for energy-saving measures will be considered, but priority will be given to applications looking to install technology such as heat pumps, solar panels, and battery storage.
Grants of up to £20,000 will be awarded to successful applicants in this category.
Chris Burchell, SSEN Distribution’s Managing Director, says:
“At SSEN, our purpose is to power communities to thrive today and help create a decarbonised tomorrow. Being true to this purpose underlines how we support our communities, particularly when it comes to helping them during times of adverse weather, or supporting their moves towards becoming more sustainable.
“That’s why I’m delighted to open applications for the second year of our Powering Communities to Net Zero (PCNZ) fund. It’s been developed to help improve resilience and the environment in the communities we serve, and more than £927,000 has already been awarded in the past year across our licence areas to do just that.
“We look forward to welcoming these new applications and supporting more projects over the coming year”.
Applications are now open for the 2025/26 fund.
The application form and more details can be found at www.ssen.co.uk/pcnz.
Groups don’t need to be a registered charity to apply, but organisations sending in an application must have a constitution (a governing document or set of rules) and be set up on a not-for-profit basis. If you are unsure if your group is eligible, contact us for advice.
Cheaper energy bills for everyone will be
much more appreciated.