Community Energy

As part of our mission to transform the energy system, we believe we can only decarbonise at the speed and scale necessary if we bring people with us. Decentralised energy creates opportunities for more engaged energy citizens, more local ownership of energy assets, and control of where the benefit goes. Community energy organisations have consistently acted as the social conscience of the energy system, they hold the wider sector to account which will help ensure a just transition where no one is left behind.

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What is community energy?

Community energy organisations are communities taking collective action to address climate change and fuel poverty by delivering community-led renewable energy, energy demand reduction, and energy supply projects. These projects typically have a significant proportion of local ownership and/or control and deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits locally, such as fuel poverty alleviation.

What does Regen do?

We’ve supported and developed a network of community energy organisations across the UK for over 10 years, working on policy, innovation and direct support.

We respond to consultations impacting the community energy sector, and create consultation briefing notes to help others do the same. See our recent briefing notes for consultations for onshore wind and transmission infrastructure.
We organise online forums for community energy groups to help build their knowledge, capacity, and engagement with the wider energy sector. Watch previous events here and check out our upcoming events here.
We investigate emerging opportunities, including a recent report on local benefits from offshore wind.
We lead projects that that directly support local residents to engage in the energy system. See our work on Power Allotments, Devon.
We write community energy strategies for Distribution Network Operators and local authorities to ensure the support they offer communities is targeted and co-designed. Find the strategy we wrote for National Grid here, and the Northern Powergrid strategy here.
We provide independent plain English guides to the energy system, to help communities learn about local supply, innovation, heat, hydrogen, storage, connecting to the network, and more.
We made a series of videos with National Grid, explaining key opportunities for how community organisations can work with them on open data, innovation projects, social obligations and energy efficiency and connecting new electricity generation.
We delivered the Community Energy England, Scotland, and Wales State of the Sector reports to understand and showcase the community energy sector, and identify evidence-based areas for growth and opportunity. See here.
We champion the community and local energy sector at a policy level, see our environmental audit committee response here, and our summary of the significant code review here.
We take part on innovation projects that help unlock the business model for community and local energy, such as Open DSR, Open LV and the Sunshine Tariff.

Our Community Energy Team

We have a dedicated team working alongside community energy groups.

Poppy Maltby

Poppy is Head of Cities and Regions at Regen. She is leading our work to support local authorities respond to the climate emergency and also heads Regen’s work on network charging. She joined Regen in August 2017 from EDF Energy having worked for 7 years in sustainability strategy and policy.

Find out more

Prina Sumaria

Prina specialises in local energy issues, supporting Regen’s community energy programme. During her time at Regen, she has worked on the delivery of the Community State of the Sector report, stakeholder engagement surveys and events, and research projects.

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George Middlemiss

George is a local energy analyst. He joined Regen in February 2022 and his work focusses on supporting the community energy sector.

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Shona R

Shona joined Regen as a graduate community project developer working on the community energy Power Allotments, Devon project alongside the Devon Energy Collective. Shona is now working as an energy analyst.

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Robbie Evans

Robbie is an energy analyst at Regen. He has worked across several areas within the organisation, including heat decarbonisation, smart local energy systems and community energy, and has contributed to the Isle of Wight investment case study, work with MCS on a retrofit supply chains and also helps manage Regen's Sustainability Task Force, who are responsible for tracking the organisations own carbon emissions.

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Rebecca Windemer

Rebecca leads our work on planning and communities at Regen. She holds a PhD in environmental planning and has expertise in community engagement and the social acceptance of renewable energy. She is a chartered town planner and is an expert in the planning system for renewable energy.

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Recent work

The Power Allotments, Devon project was set up by Regen and the Devon Energy Collective to engage and encourage communities and individuals across Devon to identify a 5 acre space in their local area for a biodiverse community-owned renewable power project.

Over the course of 12 months to April 2023, funded by Devon County Council, community-minded people concerned about climate change came together and, using the mapping tools and guidance provided by the Power Allotments project, put forward potential generation projects.

Find out more here.

Benefits of Community Energy Membership

Regen’s mission is to transform the world’s energy systems for a zero carbon future. But we can’t do it alone. Together with our members we provide an expert and highly influential voice for the policies and market innovation required to drive us to net zero. Join us and invest in a zero carbon energy future.

Community Energy Group membership is just £275+ VAT per year.

Let's work together and create a low carbon future

We have a fantastic team that work alongside community energy groups, to find out more contact Hannah.

Become a member Contact Hannah to find out more