Our Powering Communities to Net Zero fund helps communities in central southern England and the north of Scotland become more resilient in the face of a volatile climate, and supports their adoption of low-carbon technologies to decarbonise communities.
The fund has a total value of £3m and runs annually, concluding in Spring 2028.
Half the fund is made available to enable communities to apply for grants that will bolster community-led physical and environmental resilience measures.
The other half is for non-profit organisations to apply for grants to go towards the purchase of new low-carbon technologies.
The Powering Communities to Net Zero Fund is now open for applications.
Low-carbon technology (LCT) fund
This part of the fund helps support the purchase and adoption of new low-carbon technologies like heat pumps and solar panels – and energy-saving measures when combined with LCT installations – by non-profit organisations.
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Read the application guidelines
Please read this document before you start your application; it'll tell you what information you'll need in order to complete your submission.
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Start your application here
Once you've read and understood the guidelines, you can begin your application here.
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Continue your application
If you're already made a start on your application, please log into our Community Investment Portal here to complete it.
Physical and environmental resilience fund
This portion provides grants to support communities during prolonged power interruptions caused by storms, and to aid their ability to cope in periods of severe weather.
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Read the application guidelines
Please read this document before you start your application; it'll tell you what information you'll need in order to complete your submission.
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Start your application
Once you've read and understood the guidelines, you can begin your application here
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Continue your application
If you're already made a start on your application, please log into our Community Investment Portal here to complete it.
Previous Low Carbon Technology grants
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The Mull and Iona Community Trust serves the Ulva Ferry community on the Isle of Mull; it’s one of the most isolated areas in the UK. The Trust successfully applied to the fund to support the installation of solar panels and battery storage on two social homes in the community. The Trust received £19,110 from the fund and the equipment is already installed and supporting residents.
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The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a long-established conservation charity and visitor attraction. The Centre welcomes 65,000 visitors annually, and operates a Birds of Prey Hospital, which treats and rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned birds. The trust is also home to a visitor centre and community space.
The Hawk Conservancy Trust has installed solar panels on its centre; after it received £19,100 from the fund towards this project.
Penny Snout from the Trust says, “We’re so grateful for the grant and the difference it is making for our venue and the planet. In the first couple of months since the solar panels were installed, we’ve already produced 5.7MWh electricity.”
Meanwhile, Abbotswood Community Association has already installed an environmentally-friendly heat pump and air conditioning / heating units at its community centre, helped by £12,000 from the fund. Sue and Laura (below) are among the members of the local community benefitting from the newly-installed equipment; the Association told us that on some of the hottest days of the year of 2025 so far, the air-conditioning was being entirely powered by their solar panels and battery!
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