Great British Energy backs Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will see a funding boost for local renewable projects from publicly owned company Great British Energy. 

After announcing it will back over 1,000 local and community energy projects over the next five years, the company has increased renewable funding for the UK’s devolved nations by £12 million to over £21 million. 

It follows an initial pledge of £9.3 million for the devolved governments to use for renewable energy schemes and solar panels on public sector buildings. 

The Scottish Government is receiving a further £5.5 million from Great British Energy and has announced 23 new projects, partially backed by both the new funding and Scottish Government investment. Together they will have offered funding to 71 community projects across Scotland this year – from a community solar farm on the Isle of Arran to wind farms in Aberdeenshire. 

Meanwhile Great British Energy is backing the Welsh Government with an additional £6.6 million, with more than £2.8 million announced in March, to fund solar panels for schools, leisure centres and museums across Wales, as well as supporting the Welsh Government’s new Ymestyn scheme that will help public sector and communities to complete projects such as solar canopies and battery energy storage.  

And in Northern Ireland Great British Energy will help the Further Education Colleges to benefit from clean energy, through installation of solar PV at a number of sites. 

UK Government Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks, said: 

“Great British Energy is empowering communities in every nation of the UK to take a stake in their own energy. 

“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – putting communities in the driving seat of energy generation and making sure working people and local businesses profit.”

Great British Energy CEO, Dan McGrail, said: 

“Communities are at the heart of our clean energy future. By increasing our support for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Great British Energy is ensuring that communities benefit directly from the transition to renewables – through lower bills and greater energy security.

“This funding will help unlock hundreds of projects that will not only provide clean energy to communities but also help accelerate our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.”

The funding marks progress in Great British Energy and Government’s Local Power Plan that will ensure the benefits of the Government’s clean power mission are felt at a local level across the UK, with energy security, good jobs and economic growth – while also helping to rebuild the nation’s public services.   

It follows a £255 million investment to roll out solar panels for 260 NHS sites and over 250 schools as well as military sites in England, helping to cut bills for frontline services, as well as £10 million in grant funding for England’s Mayoral Strategic Authorities to deliver local clean energy projects, announced earlier this year.

gov.uk