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Guidance

Local net zero: central support for local authorities and communities

Updated 24 September 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-net-zero-support-for-local-authorities-and-communities/local-net-zero-central-support-for-local-authorities-and-communities

Government provides a range of support to help local areas decarbonise. This includes:

  • the Local Net Zero Accelerator Programme
  • the Local Net Zero Hubs Programme
  • funding for Net Zero Go, an on-line platform to provide councils with information to develop locally focused net zero projects
  • Great British Energy, which will provide funding and support to Mayoral Strategic Authorities, community energy groups and devolved governments, helping to increase the roll out of renewable energy projects. This support includes:
    • Mayoral Renewables Scheme: a £10 million fund from Great British Energy and the government to support Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority to roll out local renewable energy projects
    • Great British Energy Community Fund: a £5 million grant funding scheme from the government to support communities to develop their own clean power projects

Local Net Zero Hubs programme

The Local Net Zero Hubs programme helps local authorities and communities in England to play a leading role in our mission to Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower, supporting local authorities to develop net zero projects and attract commercial investment, including alignment to Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan ambitions.

Find out more about the Local Net Zero Hubs:

Local Net Zero Accelerator programme 

Government has provided £19 million for a Local Net Zero Accelerator programme to unleash the potential of local government to attract commercial investment for green growth by piloting new approaches in three areas. The programme includes funding for:  

1. Two Local Net Zero Accelerators: to support the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority to develop an aggregated bundle of projects to secure long-term sustainable commercial investment.

2. A City Leap Replicator: to support York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority in testing replicating a similar model to Bristol City Leap at pace and with less cost.

3. Local Net Zero Finance Support Service: to provide the pilot areas with the access to relevant financial skills, knowledge, and experience to deliver the programmes of work.

Local Net Zero Delivery Group

To strengthen our engagement between local government on net zero strategy, policy and delivery, government has established the Local Net Zero Delivery Group, which will support local government to drive forward net zero action at the local level.

See more about the Local Net Zero Delivery Group.

Community Energy Funding

Government recognises the role community groups play in our efforts to tackle climate change and offers a range of support to community energy projects.

Great British Energy Community Energy Fund (2026)

Great British Energy is helping community organisations across the UK develop clean energy projects that reduce emissions, lower energy costs and ensure the benefits of energy generation are shared with local communities.

The £20 million Great British Energy Community Fund provides grant funding to help community organisations develop community-owned clean energy projects across the UK. Further information is available through the GBE website.

This builds on the success of previous funds, including the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), Community Energy Fund (CEF) 2023 to 2025, and the Great British Energy Community Fund 2025 to 2026.

Applicants can access support from regional delivery partners across the UK. In England, support is provided through the five Local Net Zero Hubs, which offer pre-application advice, technical and commercial guidance, and support to help develop projects and strengthen applications. Further information is available through the Local Net Zero Hubs.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, support can be found through the Welsh Government Energy Service and Advice NI.

Partnerships Grant

The £5 million Partnerships Grant provides funding for local authorities and community energy organisations in England to work together to develop local clean energy projects. Further information is available through the GBE website

The grant operates through a two-stage competitive process and supports local authorities to assess the technical, commercial, governance and delivery feasibility of local energy opportunities. Local authorities must identify a credible project opportunity and demonstrate how the proposed activities will assess its viability. Each stage is a separate competitive award.

Great British Energy: Community Fund 2025 to 2026

Great British Energy provided funding and support to Mayoral Strategic Authorities, community energy groups and devolved governments, to help increase the roll out of renewable energy projects. As part of this, community energy groups were able to access a share of the Great British Energy Community Fund, a £5 million grant fund to support projects to help communities generate their own clean power. 

This Fund continued the work of the Community Energy Fund, maintaining the same scope and eligibility criteria. It was administered through our five Local Net Zero Hubs, and further information can be found on their respective websites:

Community Energy Fund (CEF) 2023 to 2025

From 2023 to 2025, government provided support to communities through the Community Energy Fund, which enabled both rural and urban communities across England to access grant funding to develop local renewable energy projects for investment.

Projects supported by the Community Energy Fund

The Community Energy Contact Group 

The Community Energy Contact Group provides a dedicated forum for community groups to engage with central government on a range of issues which impact the sector.

See more about the Community Energy Contact Group.

Background

Further details of the government’s approach to local net zero:

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