The panel for our Megawatt Community Energy Fund has decided which projects should receive grants this year. Here’s some background on how the decisions are made and who makes them.
How is community energy different from commercial renewable energy projects? The clue is in the name. Instead of putting private profit at the top of the agenda – our mission is to serve the community as a whole. One of the key ways we do that is through community benefit funds. For BEC, an important part of this is our Megawatt Community Energy Fund, which we have distributed annually since 2017 alongside fellow community energy group Low Carbon Gordano.
This year we received 19 applications with requests totalling over £70k. With a total fund of just over £40k for grants of up to £4k, some tough decisions had to be made. After a gruelling three-hour discussion, the panel decided to award grants to 11 applications. The projects were a wonderful snapshot of the amazing work happening in Bristol and beyond to address the climate crisis, including sustainable transport, reducing food miles and education projects. This year there was a strong focus on education, strengthening community-owned energy projects, and tackling fuel poverty. You can read a list of the projects which have received offers of the grant here. Look out for their stories in our newsletter.
Managing the grant
We pay experienced grant-makers Quartet Community Foundation to administer the fund for us. Quartet, which is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, supports local charitable groups across the West of England. Their team ranks each application according to the guidelines (you can read them here), and prepares detailed notes on strengths and weaknesses for the panel to discuss. These notes are sent to panel members two weeks before the meeting and take around half a day to read through.
The Megawatt Fund panel was well facilitated. There was a very good and clear process. I’ve now got a better understanding of the range of projects funded.
What is being funded makes a big difference to the rationale of community energy in the first place. Sharing those stories, making the benefits to those communities visible, is a tangible output of all the good work BEC is doing.
Alasdair Donn, BEC member and Megawatt Fund panellist 2026
The panel
The panel is made up of between 5-7 people, representing the two community energy groups and Quartet. With so many excellent applications, making a decision can be difficult, but there is plenty of support on hand to talk it through. Although the meeting itself is hard work, learning more about the incredible projects happening in our city and around it is hugely rewarding, especially the knowledge that our energy is helping support them for the future.
We are hugely grateful to our two BEC members who joined us for this year’s panel. If you are a member and would like to take part in next year’s panel, email us at info@bristolenergy.coop to register your interest.
