We're now welcoming applications for this year’s Powering Communities to Net Zero fund.
* Apply now at www.ssen.co.uk/pcnz
* Applications are open 'til Wednesday 25 June 2025
The fund – which was introduced as part of our current business plan – will award £3m in shareholder-funded grants by 2028. It has two categories:
- Physical and environmental resilience – to help during storms
This will provide grants to support communities during prolonged power interruptions caused by storms, and to aid their ability to cope in periods of severe weather. - To help fund the purchase of Low-Carbon Technologies
This supports the adoption of new Low-Carbon Technologies like heat pumps and solar panels – and in some cases energy-saving measures – by non-profit organisations.
Last year, SSEN Distribution awarded £928,000 to a total of 75 projects.
39 projects in the southern central England licence area received a total of £517,000.
36 grants went to successful applicants in the north of Scotland licence area, worth a total of £411,000.
47 projects were to support communities during storms (a total of £485,781.87) while 28 projects were for the purchase of Low-Carbon Technologies, with a combined value of £442,016.24.
Community-led physical and environmental resilience grants
Last winter brought Storms Darragh and Éowyn - and with them some of the strongest winds in a decade. These storms were a reminder of the more volatile climate we’re all now living in, and the need to make the right preparations in response. Just over half of the coming year’s funding allocation will be to enable communities to apply for grants that will fund physical and environmental resilience measures. Grants of up to £15,000 will be awarded to successful applicants in this category, and further details of the criteria can be found in the fund guidance.
Low-carbon technology grants
The remaining share of the fund will be available for non-profit organisations to apply for grants to go towards the purchase of new Low-Carbon Technologies.
For example, a successful grant application could result in a social housing scheme or community centre being awarded funding to contribute to the cost of EV chargers, solar panels, battery storage or backup, low-carbon heating systems, or smart heating controls.
Applicants who’ve already carried out an energy audit to provide recommendations for what to install and to give an idea of potential cost savings will be considered favourably. Funding for energy-saving measures will be considered, but priority will be given to applications looking to install technology such as heat pumps, solar panels, and battery storage.
We encourage applicants in SSEN’s north of Scotland’s licence area, who are applying for Local Energy Scotland’s CARES Community Buildings Fund to consider making applications to PCNZ for match funding for eligible elements.
Grants of up to £20,000 will be awarded to successful applicants in this category.
SSEN Distribution’s Managing Director Chris Burchell says:
“At SSEN, our purpose is to power communities to thrive today and help create a decarbonised tomorrow. Being true to this purpose underlines how we support our communities, particularly when it comes to helping them during times of adverse weather, or supporting their moves towards becoming more sustainable.
“That’s why I’m delighted to open applications for the second year of our Powering Communities to Net Zero (PCNZ) fund. It’s been developed to help improve resilience and the environment in the communities we serve, and more than £927,000 has already been awarded in the past year across our licence areas to do just that.
“We look forward to welcoming these new applications and supporting more projects over the coming year”.
How to apply for Powering Communities to Net Zero funding
Applications are now open for the 2025/26 fund.
The application form and more details can be found at www.ssen.co.uk/pcnz.
To be eligible for funding, your project must help communities that lie wholly within Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ Distribution network areas.
If you're unsure who your distribution network operator is, please check here: https://www.ssen.co.uk/about-ssen/who-is-my-distributor/
Groups don’t need to be a registered charity to apply, but organisations sending in an application must have a constitution (a governing document or set of rules) and be set up on a not-for-profit basis. If you are unsure if your group is eligible, contact us for advice.
Extra help with your application
To help support prospective applicants, we're hosting a webinar at 4pm on Tuesday 13th May to help review the fund guidelines and answer questions that you may have relating to the fund. Please register your interest using this link below, and we'll give you joining instructions for our online webinar.
SSEN’s community funding in action
In Argyll & Bute, Ardrishaig Community Council was awarded £9,000 to purchase emergency equipment like blankets, torches, communications equipment, and high-visibility vests to support its Local Resilience Plan.
In Wiltshire, Laverstock & Ford Parish Council has recently established a Community Emergency Volunteer group to support the emergency services with trained and skilled volunteers. This group has been awarded £14,432 for communications equipment, a mobile flood barrier, and a portable power supply.
The Mull and Iona Community Trust successfully applied to the fund to support the installation of solar panels and battery storage on two social homes in Ulva Ferry on the Isle of Mull. The Trust received £19,110 from the fund and the equipment is already installed and supporting residents.
After significant flooding in October 2023 on the Isle of Wight, Ryde Town Council sought advice from the local Emergency Planning Team as well as community groups and businesses. The planning undertaken led to an award of £10,355, to purchase flood prevention measures to increase resilience and support recovery after storm damage.
In Hampshire, Abbotswood Community Association has already installed an environmentally-friendly heat pump and air conditioning / heating units at its community centre, helped by £12,000 from the fund. Laura and Sue (above) are among the members of the local community benefitting from the newly-installed equipment; the Association told us that on the hottest day of the year on the 30th April, the air-conditioning was being entirely powered by their solar panels and battery!
And elsewhere in the county, the Hawk Conservancy Trust has installed solar panels on the roof of its bird conservation hospital and visitor centre; it received £19,100 from the fund towards this project.
Keltybridge & Maryburgh Water Association provides a water supply to residents within its remote community in Perth and Kinross. To improve resilience and ensure safe drinking water in the event of a power outage, the association received £8,250 to install a battery back-up.
The North Uist Development Trust received £20,000 to support the installation of solar panels and battery storage on its environmental centre, that’s given the former Lochmaddy Primary School building a new lease of life.
Other support SSEN provides
More than one million customers in SSEN Distribution’s network areas are now signed up to the Priority Service Register. Being signed up can give access to further, tailored support during a power cut, when people need it the most. All these services are provided free of charge. For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.ssen.co.uk/psr.