The £20 million Great British Energy (GBE) Community Fund is offering grants to help community-based organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland develop and build community-owned clean energy projects.

A total of £20 million is being made available.

Funding is provided in three stages:

• Stage 1 – Feasibility grants of up to £40,000 to test whether the project idea is viable before committing significant time or money.
• Stage 2 – Development grants of up to £100,000 to turn a viable idea into an investment-ready project.
• Stage 3 – Capital grants of up to £3 million, or 50% of total project value, to help a construction-ready project bridge remaining funding gaps.

All grant funding must be defrayed and claimed by 31 March 2028, unless funding is for a Stage 1 project that has requested payment in advance.

Applicants must be based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, be a legally incorporated community organisation of a type set out below and have a bank account with two signatories on the account.

Eligible incorporations types are as follows:

• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Community Benefit Society (CBS or Bencom)
• Community Interest Company (CIC)
• Co-operative Society
• Development Trust
• Pre-commencement society
• Incorporated registered charity
• Registered Social Landlord
• Registered Society
• Town or Parish Council.

Joint applications may be made as long as all partners are one of the eligible organisations.

Any project(s) developed through this funding should be at least 50% community-owned.

There will be a single application window with the possibility of further windows if funding remains available.

The application window is open for 8 weeks from 17 September 2026 to 12 November 2026 (23:55).

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