Work with Us: Community Projects
Are you part of a community energy group that wants to start generating your own renewable energy, scale up your operations, or you need extra support to manage your coop project?
We are supporting 30+ community energy co-operatives around the UK to generate clean energy, empower their members and channel money back into their local areas. We have expertise in all areas of the process: from the initial idea, project development and funding through to ongoing operation and management. There could be several reasons why you are seeking renewable energy coop support:
To establish initial viability of a community energy project
To raise finance in the pre-planning stage
Project management in the post-planning stage
Management (administrative and materials) of the operational stage
Further co-operative development

The chart below guides you through the broad steps of the process, though we tailor the framework to suit each co-op that we work with. To get in touch with someone from our team and receive our services leaflet, please use the contact button at the bottom of the page.

IDENTIFYING A PROJECT
In the case of most projects Energy4All has found that the best approach is to guide the community group through a self assessment process. In this way the enquirer gets a much better understanding of what is involved, what the major hurdles are likely to be and whether the project is likely to be financially and technically viable.

SETTING UP THE CO-OPERATIVE
Once it has been established that a project is viable and a formal agreement has been reached between the project and Energy4All, the work of setting up a Co-operative or Community Benefit Society can begin. Energy4All registers this with the Financial Conduct Authority using pre-approved Model Rules. The organisation's founder directors will normally include Energy4All staff as well as those from the local community.
DEVELOPING A PROJECT
a) Pre-planning – The most difficult and risky stage for most community-owned renewables projects is the application for planning permission.
Once risk funding is in place, Energy4all will provide project management services for the whole planning application process, which can be lengthy, complex and expensive.
In parallel with the planning Energy4All will work closely with the local community on a programme of information and engagement to develop understanding of the issues and to encourage support for the project.
b) Post Planning- Energy4All can guide the group or project owner through the whole process of procurement of turbines and other equipment, the site infrastructure contracts, grid connection and contracts for the sale of power etc.
Where necessary Energy4All oversees the whole construction process, using an expert project manager to ensure efficient delivery of the project. This stage of the project only ends when commissioning of the machinery is complete and the site is handed over to the owners.
FINANCING A PROJECT
Energy projects are capital intensive and renewables are no exception. Once planning permission has been secured, the community group or owner has to secure the necessary equity and loan finance. This is where Energy4All’s ethical investment expertise in running public share offers for community renewables comes in. A prospectus is written under the FCA regulations and a comprehensive publicity campaign is organised with the local community taking the lead. The aim is always to secure the maximum possible community engagement while successfully raising the required capital.


OPERATING A PROJECT
The project now enters the Operational phase. Energy4All will normally have a separate long-term contract with the co-operative to support its operation throughout the life of the project. This can involve two distinct aspects:
i) Energy4All manages the day-to-day affairs of the co-operative, supporting the board, answering members’ queries and undertaking all necessary administrative and accountancy functions.
Many co-ops in the Energy4All family spend a proportion of their income on environmental work in their local communities. Energy4All encourages and supports such initiatives, which the co-ops fund themselves.
ii) In addition, on projects where the community owns the project, Energy4All can manage the long term relationship with the equipment manufacturers to maintain the renewable energy technology. It also manages the sale of power and all other technical support functions requested by the board.
Sounds like we could help your project to reach its full potential? Get in touch:
Renewable energy coop support