Islington Community Energy Fund

Overview

Organisations with charitable aims can apply for a grant from the Islington Community Energy Fund (ICEF) to spend on projects that

• generate energy or save energy
• benefit the community, particularly the fuel poor
• either use new or existing technology in a new way, or use new methods for delivering the project

You can apply for either

• feasibility funding: for developing a business case, feasibility studies, and preparing a project for financing
• capital funding: for implementing or delivering the project

This is part of our goal to become carbon neutral by 2030.

How much you can get

• feasibility funding: 100% funding up to £10,000.
• capital funding: up to 50% of the capital value of the project, up to a maximum of £50,000 per project.

What you can spend it on

Feasibility funding

Projects must show quantifiable carbon savings. For example, energy generation or storage, low carbon heating technologies, or energy efficiency and energy use reductions.

Funding will support a range of works associated with developing a project to the point where it is ready for implementation. This could include:

• initial assessments of a building to determine appropriate technologies
• technical feasibility assessment (for example structural surveys, assessing the feasibility of grid connection)
• stakeholder consultation and community engagement costs
• assessment of planning issues
• getting permissions from the site landowner
• staff costs for project delivery, such as labour, design, and project management
• licences and consent
• financial viability or business case assessments
• legal advice

We want to support community groups to unlock the potential for innovative and new community energy projects by identifying those with the most potential to progress.

Capital funding 

You should give evidence of how you have secured or intend to secure match funding and why the works can't be fully funded from other sources.

If your project previously received feasibility funding from the ICEF, you can apply for capital funding in this round.

Funding will support a range of works associated with implementing projects. This could include:

• buying materials required for the project, such as energy efficiency measures, heat pump, solar panels
• installation and project management of the installation
• machine and equipment purchase or hire

We will only consider reasonable 'contingency costs' on capital projects.

Only apply when:

• the project has secured all approvals, feasibility studies, permissions
• it is ready to be financed for deployment or installation
• you have a clear project timeline showing that the project can be delivered within 12 months

What you cannot spend the grant on

• fully funded posts. It can only be used for fees for consultancy work or partial, temporary staff costs to support the project.
• day to day running costs of the organisation
• maintenance of existing equipment and repairs
• projects only involving educational activities and workshops
• projects that have already been completed

Previous projects we've funded

Examples of successful community energy projects funded by ICEF are:

• a housing cooperative installed a large solar photovoltaic array as part of their plans to become energy self-sufficient.
• a church received funding for battery storage so they can use all the power they generate from solar photovoltaic panels, to reduce energy bills. They also received funds to install radiant heat panels so they can heat small areas of the church for community and play groups.
• a local adventure playground purchased solar-powered toy car kits to help children learn how solar power works. Their parents built and installed larger solar panels for an outdoor summer house.

For advice on creating a community group or information about other community energy projects, visit Community Energy England.

Who can apply

Constituted groups with charitable aims in Islington can apply, such as

• registered charities
• community and voluntary groups
• co-operatives
• faith and equalities groups

Community Interest Companies and social enterprises can apply if they are wholly not-for-profit and

• 100% of the surplus income is re-invested into the organisation
• the organisation does not have a ‘profit distribution’ clause in its governing documents, which allows it to pay Executive Directors as shareholders, and Executive Directors must operate in a voluntary capacity.

Organisations must also have a bank account.

If you apply as a partnership

• give evidence to show it is a genuine partnership
• show which partner will provide the leadership and project oversight
• the lead applicant must have a bank account

Apply for the fund

The application deadline is 5pm on Friday 25 July 2025.

You will need to give information about:

• your organisation and its objectives
• the experience you have working with the local community on this project and if they are supportive
• any existing energy projects you are running
• how the project meets the criteria
• the project objectives and how you will measure them
• project start and end dates
• a realistic project plan including timetable, responsibilities for management and delivery, stakeholders, anticipated risks and mitigations, and a detailed implementation plan
• how you will maintain the long-term sustainability benefits after the project is completed
• any other information and attachments which will support your application in the stream you’re applying for

Apply for the fund

What happens after you apply

All applications will be assessed by an evaluation panel. The panel includes council staff and councillors.

We will let you know if your application has been successful 6 to 8 weeks after applications closed.

We might contact you if we need more information about your application.

Get help with your project

If you aren't sure how to develop a suitable project or don’t have the expertise to develop your idea, email energyservices@islington.gov.uk. We can connect you with organisations who can help develop your idea.

Other funding

The London Community Energy Fund by the Greater London Authority is similar and available London-wide. If you are an Islington group or an Islington-based project, you can apply for funding from both.

We can help you find other grants and loans. Email energyservices@islington.gov.uk for more information.