Social DSO Fund
Social DSO Fund
As part of our social DSO strategy we've enhanced our funding offer (previously Powering our Communities Fund) and it's now known as Social DSO Fund. Its aim is to better support community energy groups with matched funding and a structured governance framework that promotes fair access, co-investment and outcome-based support.
The fund supports communities by providing matched funding for projects that install assets (such as battery storage) and take part in local flexibility markets. This will help us to distribute investment more fairly across the region and help to build a greener, more resilient and more inclusive energy network.
The new fund will continue to support investment in clean energy, sustainability and climate-related projects by providing grants for initiatives such as community EV charging hubs, solar projects and energy-saving ideas.
Applications now open!
Round three timeframes
Since our launch in October 2025...
11 organisations have already jointly benefitted from more than £195,000 which they will use to buy new or expand their existing sustainable energy systems to support the North West’s and Great Britain’s greener energy future. This equates to more than £1,739,521 in wider societal benefits when utilising our cost benefit analysis calculator.
They are:
- Burneside Community Energy: Expanding local renewable generation with solar PV panels and battery storage to cut emissions, store clean power and increase community energy independence.
- EnergyCloud England: A pilot that captures renewable energy and redirects it to vulnerable households offering an innovative route to affordable warmth.
- Solar for Schools: Enhancing on-site renewables at a local school with battery storage, reducing bills and providing hands‑on learning opportunities for students.
- NHS: Installing battery storage at a health facility to boost resilience, cut carbon and support essential services during peak demand.
- Culterham Hall: Transforming the village hall into a low‑carbon resilience hub, providing a warm, energy‑efficient and reliable community space during extreme weather or emergencies.
- Greystoke District Sports Association: Creating on-site storage for Cumbrian-based open-air community swimming pool, reducing bills, boosting resilience and opening access to local flexibility markets.
- Burneside Community Energy Limited for St. Oswald's Primary School: Installation of battery storage at a primary school to maximise the use of onsite solar generation, reduce costs and improve energy resilience.
- Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary: A large solar installation across multiple buildings to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions at a high‑demand animal sanctuary.
- The Lonsdale Club: Installation of solar PV and battery storage to lower running costs and improve the sustainability of a busy community venue.
- People Powered Retrofit: A joint project with South Manchester Credit Union combining energy advice and green loans to help households make informed decisions about low‑carbon home upgrades and energy use.
- Carbon Co‑op: Development of a data platform enabling community buildings to better understand energy use and unlock opportunities for efficiency, generation and flexibility.