Morning, Friday, 16th October 2026
Online
This conference will assess latest developments, policy priorities, and next steps for community energy development in the UK. Areas for discussion include the role of community energy within future energy markets and local energy systems, investment and ownership models, market access and project delivery, and approaches to planning, co-ordination and local engagement.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to examine these issues following publication of Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan, with the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee conducting an inquiry on Unlocking community energy at scale, and amid ongoing market and regulatory reform.
Local supply models
Sessions will consider the emerging role of community-owned generation, flexibility and local supply models. Issues around participation in the clean energy transition will be discussed, alongside policy, regulatory, market and financial factors that continue to influence deployment. We expect the conference to bring out views on the future contribution of community energy to the wider energy system, and implications for policy, regulation, market design and investment.
Investment, market access & local value
The agenda will examine priorities for investment, different ownership models, and approaches to improving market access. Areas for discussion include considerations for project viability, delivery capacity, and long-term sustainability. Delegates will also assess the respective roles of local authorities, community organisations and other delivery partners, as well as options for enabling communities to share in the benefits arising from low-carbon energy infrastructure.
Planning, capacity & co-ordination
Further sessions will consider barriers to project delivery and how they can be addressed, including planning constraints, skills gaps, capacity pressures, and delays in grid connections. National and local frameworks will be examined, looking at how they can best support place-based approaches to community energy, alongside questions around co-ordination, consistency and effectiveness. Implications of ongoing reform to planning and network connections will also be assessed, together with the role of network operators in enabling and supporting local energy development.
Overview of areas for discussion
- role of community energy:
- community ownership and autonomy - contribution to reducing energy costs and addressing fuel poverty
- local economic development, energy flexibility and system resilience - expectations for the role of community energy within wider energy objectives
- investment, ownership models and market access:
- GBE and the Local Power Plan - private investment and long-term project pipelines - shared ownership models, governance and consumer protection
- access to local and flexibility markets, including power purchase agreements, supply licence reforms and Balancing and Settlement Code reforms
- equity and inclusion:
- equitable access to opportunities and benefits - resource and capacity challenges in communities and local authorities - support for low-income areas
- links with home retrofit and Warm Homes initiatives
- planning and consenting:
- Planning and Infrastructure Act and National Planning Policy Framework - planning reform to energy infrastructure - consistency, local capacity and place-based delivery
- grid:
- connections reform - access criteria and project delivery - collaboration between communities and network operators
- energy planning & co-ordination:
- alignment of Local Area Energy Plans, Regional Energy Spatial Plans and the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan - contribution of local energy systems to wider energy objectives
