London Community Energy Fund phase 6 (2022/23) FAQs

It depends under which stream you are looking to apply:

• Stream A (Development funding): up to 100% of project development costs to a maximum of £15,000 per application
• Stream B (Capital funding): up to a third (33%) of project total capital cost and up to a maximum grant value of £50,000. For solar PV projects over 40kWp and LED projects, grants will only cover up to one-fifth (20%) of the capital value of the project
• Stream C (Innovation and pre-feasibility): up to 100% of project costs to a maximum of £5,000
• Stream D – (Training, events and engagement grants) up to 100% of project costs to a maximum of £5,000.

In total up to £400,000 is available to projects applying to phase 6 of the LCEF.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, 5 February 2023 at 11:59 pm.

The LCEF has evolved since its launch in 2017 to respond to changes in the sector and to try and provide support in the most effective way. Phase 6 offers delivery, development and pre-feasibility grants, like phase 5 beforehand. In addition community groups can apply for funding towards events, training and engagment activities,

No. An applicant could apply to each stream for different projects but can only apply to either stream A, B, C or D for one project. This is because projects seeking capital funding have to evidence that all the development work of the project has been completed and that the project is ready to move to installation phase. The timescales are tight for capital funded projects and as such projects must be ready to move to completion/installation. If the project still has elements of development phases to be completed, we would recommend applying for Stream A or C.

Projects which have received development grant funding under the LCEF phases 1 to 5 but not yet been installed/delivered can apply for capital funding for their project under phase 6, as long as all development work is completed.

Applicants to Stream B (Capital) will have to demonstrate how the GLA funding either enables the project to happen (i.e. the project wouldn’t happen without the GLA grant) and/or that the reach or scale of the project can be enhanced by to the GLA funding.

Please get in touch with us to discuss your project by emailing us at [email protected]

Please get in touch with us to discuss your project by emailing us at [email protected]

The provision of the GLA funding amounts to a conditional gift and is therefore not subject to VAT. Therefore, claims for GLA funding should include all applicable VAT. For example, a recipient could include an expense that includes VAT as part of their overall grant claim/expenditure, but they can’t itemise out the VAT, or apply it to their whole claim.

No. A project can cover several sites in one application.

Yes. You can apply for Capital (Stream B) to install a project that LCEF has helped to develop in the previous rounds. However, you cannot apply for further funding through Stream A, C or D for a project that has been supported previously, unless the revised project is significantly different or scaled up and offers good value for money. If in doubt, please contact the GLA team at [email protected]

Funding under LCEF phase 5 cannot be combined with other funding offered by the GLA. It may be combined with local government funding for instance Section 106 carbon offset funds and local community energy funds.

Projects will need to check that measures funded in part or wholly through from central government and supplier obligations are eligible for these funds if combined with LCEF funding, such as Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (GHG LAD) scheme and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).

Yes, you can receive a SEG tariff alongside a capital grant for purchasing or installing the renewable generation.  Find out more

Please contact the GLA team at [email protected]