Community Energy in Action

Solar panels transform buildings at the heart of our communities including schools, hospitals, community centres and homes into energy generators and income generators. They produce clean power while creating revenue that can flow back into local projects and initiatives.

Unlike large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure, which can’t sit in the heart of a community, solar panels offer a practical, place-based solution. Energy production doesn’t just reduce carbon emissions, it also delivers tangible benefits for local people and places.

Projects like Energise Barnsley show how this works in practice. Community buildings hosting solar panels can generate energy and income that supports schools, local initiatives, and neighbourhoods, demonstrating that the low-carbon transition can be both financially and socially impactful.

🎥 Watch Julia Davies outside a local community centre as part of the Energise Barnsley project, explaining why community energy is such a powerful tool for clean power and local benefit.