Community energy: business models and possible innovations

Community-led energy initiatives, from solar co-ops to shared heat pumps and retrofit schemes, are growing across the UK. Yet questions around how these projects are governed, who makes decisions, and what participation looks like in practice remain complex. The CE-CS (Community Energy – Citizen Science) project brings together citizens, researchers and community groups to explore these issues, identify shared concerns, and co-create research grounded in lived experience.

In this Q&A session, we’ll explore how business models in the community and local energy sector are evolving in response to changes in policy, markets and society. Our guest, expert Tim Braunholtz‑Speight, will share insights from his work on innovative approaches that help local energy initiatives move beyond pilots and become lasting, citizen-led operations. We’ll look at how community share offers can support financing, and examine new models designed to better engage and protect energy users through strong governance and practical advice. Join us to explore people-centred innovations in community energy and have your say – this is your chance to learn, ask questions and connect with an expert.