The fund is open until 27 October for applications from community groups within Northern Powergrid’s operating area across the North East, Yorkshire, Humberside and northern Lincolnshire. Northern Powergrid will consider any application under the broad definition of Community Energy. This includes generation, reduction, management and purchasing - and everything from tried and tested through to innovative technologies and new initiatives.

In addition to the Community Foundation Tyne, Wear and Northumberland, Northern Powergrid is working with National Energy Action, Community Energy England, VONNE, Involve Yorkshire and Humber and other community energy experts to promote the fund and assess applications.

Anne-Claire Leydier, sustainability manager at Northern Powergrid, said: “As the company responsible for managing the power network that safely delivers electricity to people’s doors, we want to support and work with local communities to deliver affordable and sustainable energy solutions.

“Our fund is an important way to help communities kick-start new energy initiatives and engage with them about connecting to their local power network. Last year we helped 10 new projects get off the ground and we are keen to help more new community energy projects this year.”

Mark Pierce, head of policy and programmes at the Community Foundation, said: “The Northern Powergrid Community Seed Fund is now in its second year and has established itself as an important way to help raise awareness of community energy projects and encourage more participation in managing and reducing energy use, particularly in those areas experiencing fuel poverty.”

To find out more about how to apply to the Northern Powergrid Community Seed Fund visit http://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply-groups. Prospective applicants may also want to visit the Community Energy Hub (www.hub.communityenergyengland.org) for further useful information about community energy in advance of applying. Successful fund applications will be announced in December 2015.

Media contact: Joanne Kerrigan, External Communications Manager or Dawn Parlett External Communications Advisor on 0845 402 0692

Notes to editor:

• Northern Powergrid is the electricity distribution business for North East England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. The company delivers power safely and reliably to the 3.9 million homes and businesses.
• Northern Powergrid’s network consists of more than 61,000 substations, 29,000 kilometres of overhead line and 62,000 kilometres of underground cable, covering an area of more than 25,000 square kilometres.