A Hampshire County Council grant of up to £100,000 has been awarded to Community Energy South (CES), ensuring continued support to resident groups aiming to develop community-based renewable energy projects including ones based in Petersfield and Alton.

CES is currently working with five Hampshire community energy groups, including two from East Hampshire.

Energise South Downs covers Petersfield, Hambledon, South Harting and Buriton, and one of its projects is developing a microgrid at a new housing development.

And Energy Alton is looking to submit an application to the Rural Community Energy Fund to install a microgrid at a local cooperative housing group.

The council funding will be available over the next two years as part of its activity to support the county to become Carbon Neutral by 2050 and be resilient to a two degree rise in temperature.

County council leader Councillor Rob Humby said: “Harnessing the motivation of Hampshire’s communities to reduce carbon emissions and generate community renewable energy is key to climate change success.

“The CES funding will enable them to train and guide a growing number of communities who want to come together to reduce their energy use, to buy, manage, and generate low carbon heat and power.

“Examples of ways this might be achieved could include setting up a residents’ home energy advice service or building community solar power facilities - helping to tackle climate change while making energy more affordable – particularly at a time when energy prices are so high.

“As projects come to fruition, the increased energy generated from these renewable projects can help reduce the overall demand for electricity from the carbon intensive national grid.”

For more information visit the website at https://www.communityenergysouth.org/