Homeowners could soon make real money from the renewable energy projects around their homes that could also save them from rising energy prices.
The UK’s new Local Power Plan will let residents buy shares in local solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage schemes, turning nearby clean energy into a potential income stream.
Ministers and industry leaders say this is a historic opportunity for ordinary people to benefit directly from the green energy transition, putting households in control and letting them earn while their communities generate electricity.
What the new Local Power Plan means
The UK Government and Great British Energy have unveiled a sweeping strategy for community and local energy, described in official documents as “the biggest public investment in community energy in this country’s history.”
This plan aims to expand clean energy projects such as solar panels on community buildings, battery storage and other renewable generation assets that are owned and led locally.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the drive for clean energy was about creating an economy that “works for the many, not just the wealthy and powerful in our society” and that local and community energy is central to that vision. He added that the government wants people to be able to “own and control clean energy so the profits flow into your community not simply out to the big energy companies.”
Great British Energy’s CEO Dan McGrail said the investment is intended to deliver “cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy for our communities.” The plan includes measures to support up to 1,000 community and local energy projects, offering grants, loans and advisory support so groups and individuals can be more directly involved in clean power generation.
How homeowners could benefit
One of the key aims of the Local Power Plan is to help communities participate in renewable energy schemes through shared ownership and other collaborative models.
The policy explicitly discusses developing investable business models and exploring ways to make it easier to share generated power locally, which could translate into opportunities for local people to invest in and benefit from projects in their area.
Stakeholders from community energy organisations have welcomed this emphasis on local involvement. Repowering London’s Chief Executive Afsheen Kabir Rashid said the investment puts “money directly into people’s pockets through reduced bills, quality jobs and meaningful local investment.”
While the government announcement does not dictate how share offers will work in practice, existing community energy groups often use shared ownership structures where local people can invest and help fund renewable infrastructure.
This means homeowners could, in future, have clearer pathways to take part in local energy schemes that return value to communities, whether through access to energy revenue, savings on energy bills, or community reinvestment.
What happens next
The Local Power Plan says the government will continue working with devolved authorities, local councils and community organisations to improve the landscape for community energy projects.
It also notes the intention to consult on regulatory and business model changes that could make shared local ownership more accessible.
Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities Miatta Fahnbulleh said strong communities are “the backbone of our society” and that the plan’s support aims to empower local people with the tools and funding they need to deliver projects that matter to them.
Officials say the next step is a detailed consultation process, expected to continue through 2026, which will explore how to operationalise shared ownership and local participation in clean energy - potentially giving homeowners and local investors new ways to benefit from the UK’s transition to net‑zero power.
