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Bristol’s ‘blueprint’ energy partnership opens second phase of funding
After widely being praised as a model for cities around the world, Bristol City Leap has launched a second round of funding for community-based energy projects.
The Community Energy Fund which is worth 1.5m is welcoming applications from local community organisations who are involved or interested in the decarbonisation of Bristol’s energy grid.
Bristol City Leap, a partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and Vattenfall Heat UK, has been accelerating decarbonisation in Bristol since its launch in 2023.
Applications for the second round must be made by September 12. The funding panel will then deliberate on October 1, with successful applicants notified shortly thereafter.
Bristol City Leap’s Community Energy Fund is welcoming applications from local community organisations – photo: Bristol City Leap
The Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund is designed to support local community-led energy projects in the Bristol area through a mix of grants and loans. The fund was financed with £750,000 contributions from both Ameresco and Vattenfall Heat UK.
There are numerous pots of funding on offer ranging from £1,000 micro-grants through to £50,000 development grants and loans. The loan offer is intended to enable even more future community projects as profits will be reinvested back into the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund.
So far, the first round has included £8,000 of investment, with three projects receiving micro-grants of £1,000 each. These projects include Windmill Hill City Farm, to assist a feasibility study on connective capability to the Bristol Heat Network; the Bristol Wood Recycling Project, to help develop plans to build solar kilns to power their recycling drying processes; and Energy Sparks, to support their work in offering outreach to five state schools in Bristol.
In addition, Resilience Network CIC received a small grant of £5,000 to help them deliver workshops, with a view to installing solar panels across five local neighbourhoods.
Windmill Hill City Farm received a £1,000 funding boost to assist a feasibility study on connective capability to the Bristol Heat Network – photo: Orchard Sauna
James Sterling, communications and social value manager at Bristol City Leap, said: “After an incredible first round of funding, we’re accepting new applicants for the second round of our Community Energy Fund. Funding for community energy projects has been a huge gap in the sector for a number of years, so we are delighted to be able to offer financial support to enable communities to play an active role in our mission to decarbonise Bristol.
“There’s so much innovation going on here in Bristol, and we are all very eager to see the exciting projects that will come from this latest round of funding.”
The Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund is supported by partners from The Centre for Sustainable Energy, Bristol and Bath Regional Capital, Bristol Energy Network and Praxis.
Cllr Martin Fodor, chair of the Bristol City Council Environment and Sustainability Committee, said: “We are thrilled to announce the second round of the £1.5 million Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund. It represents another significant step forward in ensuring our communities play their part in shaping the decarbonisation of Bristol. This initiative not only supports local community-led energy projects but also fosters innovation and resilience within our communities.
“By empowering local organisations with the financial resources they need, we are ensuring that the benefits of a low-carbon future are shared by all as part of a just transition in a city tackling the changing climate. I encourage all eligible groups to apply and contribute to making Bristol a fairer, more sustainable city.”
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Speaking about the first phase of the project, James Sterling told Bristol24/7: “Since we launched in 2023, Bristol City Leap has retrofitted hundreds of homes, connected several new developments to our low-carbon heat network, created over 100 new jobs, launched our £1.5m community energy fund, spent over £3m with local suppliers and I’m incredibly proud of our progress to date.”
Bristol City Leap bagged major national recognition for its approach for city scale decarbonation at the UK Business Green Awards where its Bristol Heat Network was praised for “substantial emissions savings and its potential to serve as a blueprint for other cities.”
Main photo: Bristol City Leap
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