Barnet Community Energy Fund

The Barnet Community Energy Fund can be used for innovative community-led energy projects in the borough. This is made available through the councils’ Carbon Offset Fund, which is ring-fenced for carbon reduction projects.  

Fund Objectives

The fund aims to support projects that can:

• reduce carbon emissions in the borough with demonstrable impacts
• increase the amount of renewable energy generated in Barnet
• work in partnership with communities in need to tackle climate change and have impacts beyond the project itself
• lead to long-term change and support the growth of Barnet’s community energy sector and projects
• help to tackle fuel poverty and reduce energy demand in Barnet through innovative approaches.

What you can get

There are three streams of funding available: 

• stream A – Feasibility and business case development grants of up to £5,000 per project supported
• stream B – Project implementation and delivery of grants of up to a third of the capital value of the project, capped at £15,000 per project supported
• stream C – Training, events and engagement grants of between £500-5,000 per project supported, depending on size and impact. These can be used by community energy groups to provide training and engage with new community groups. They must demonstrate carbon reduction and value for money.

Who can apply 

• registered charities
• community and voluntary groups 
• co-operatives 
• community groups working with schools 
• faith and equalities groups 
• social enterprises  
• community interest companies 
• community benefit societies  
• tenants’ and residents’ associations. 

Groups that can't apply can partner with organisations who can, to hold the funding and to support projects setting up.  

Please note: Although we welcome applicants registered outside the borough, all proposed projects and activities covered by this fund must take place in the London Borough of Barnet.

Support to develop a project

If you are a community organisation that is interested in the Barnet Community Energy Fund, but are not sure how to develop a suitable project or don’t have the expertise to develop your idea, please email us and we will try to connect you with a suitable group to support your application.  

Your project may also receive support from a limited number of mentoring slots available through Community Energy London which Barnet Council has funded. Get in touch with the team to find out more.  

Apply for the fund

Applications will be open from Monday 19 May until Monday 30 June 2025. Successful applicants will be notified within 4 weeks of the funds close. The funding will be required to be spent within a year of being awarded.  

After the funding has been allocated, successful projects will be required to report on the outcomes and outputs achieved by the project and submit a project evaluation. 

Please return the completed application form and a signed copy of our Terms and Conditions to us by email by the 30 June.

Other funding

This funding can be used as match funding with other grants. To explore other grants that might be available for your project, look at the list published by the Centre for Sustainable Energy: Funding for charities and community groups - Centre for Sustainable Energy