We are delighted to announce that we have changed our name from Community Energy South (CES) to Community Energy Pathways.
Community Energy Pathways is building on a decade of pioneering and award-winning work by CES and is enabling communities throughout the UK to play a leading role in the transition to net zero.
Community energy is about all people and communities working together and sharing ideas to reduce energy usage, move away from fossil fuels and generate local low-carbon and low-cost heat and power. We help establish community energy groups as community benefit societies. So far, we have supported and created more than 50 such organisations and helped them to represent their localities and local authorities; this is a highly empowering, thoughtful and proactive process for all involved.
“We are immensely proud of the achievements of the 50 community energy groups. The support we provide for them is tailored for the community energy sector to realise the power of local people to support community involvement and keep the value of local energy in our communities.”
– Ollie Pendered, Chief Executive and Founder, Community Energy Pathways
Our story
Starting out in 2013 as Community Energy South, we have grown from a hub in the southeast to working throughout England under our new name, Community Energy Pathways. Our vision is for every district, borough or unitary authority to benefit from a community energy group that can provide local net-zero services, including community-owned renewable energy and trusted local energy advice services. In 2025 we are working in 20 local authority areas and helping the community energy sector build capacity and skills.
Our success stories
Community Energy People
We are a year into our Community Energy People project, supported by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. This has created 33 paid jobs and more than 100 volunteering roles in 11 community energy groups across England. So far, we have added 200 hours of staff time per week to the sector, enabling the groups to build core teams and realise their ambitions.
Ben White, co-ordinator of Community Energy People, says
“As someone new to the community energy sector, it is inspiring to work with these incredible partner organisations and support their drive and commitment to a greener future.”
For one group, a crucial aim was that more than 50% of new users should be people who face barriers to getting involved in community energy. When recruiting staff, they used this wording: “We actively encourage people of all backgrounds, ages, races, religions, belief systems, sexual orientations and gender identities to apply for this role. We are working towards being a Disability Confident employer and are open to discussing how best to make that work for our successful candidate.”
It worked – their team is highly experienced, skilled and diverse in terms of cultural background, disability and economic status.
Central Bedfordshire
Community Energy Pathways has been working with Central Bedfordshire Council since November 2022 to deliver our community energy capacity building programme. Three community energy businesses have been created and mentored: Greensand, Buzz and River Ivel Community Energy. They have formed a robust network encompassing Ampthill, Flitwick, Biggleswade and Leighton Buzzard.
Working together, they have developed an energy advice project with funding secured by Community Energy Pathways in partnership with UK Power Networks. Known as the “Leaving No-one Behind” project, it has enabled the groups to collaborate and share ideas – fully embedding them in their communities.
Highly knowledgeable and experienced, the team includes the head of energy at Cranfield University, a retired lecturer from Bradford College, a trustee from Power to Change, the head of sustainability at a global manufacturer, a ward councillor, a school business manager and a well connected and much-admired owner of a hairdressing firm who has decarbonised his entire business.
The groups have a project pipeline that includes rooftop solar-PV for several schools and shared ownership opportunities for solar and wind generation. They have secured funding from the Greater South-East Net Zero Hub.
None of this would have been possible without the full support of Central Bedfordshire Council’s sustainability team and the development fund they provided.
“Community Energy Pathways was awarded the 2023/2024 Sector Support Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the community energy sector. CES has demonstrated exemplary efforts in sharing their skills, knowledge and expertise with other organisations and individuals in the community energy workforce.”
– Community Energy England, National Sector Awards
Leaving No One Behind
Leaving No One Behind is Community Energy Pathways’ flagship energy advice programme funded by UK Power Networks and delivered in partnership with over 20 community energy organisations across the south and east of England. In its first year, the programme has reached 12,000 people with bespoke energy advice to meet specific customer needs. This advice ranges from emergency debt relief and benefits support to switching suppliers and applying for grant support for heat pumps and solar panels. The support included over 800 home visits to improve energy efficiency, provide behaviour change advice, and assess homes for retrofit and low-carbon technology upgrade suitability.
In addition to the impact such personalised advice has had on individuals, the programme has also allowed community energy organisations to establish themselves as a trusted voice in their community and begin exploring ways to extend their services.
Our vision for Community Energy Pathways
We will continue our regional support across the southeast, which will include our developing resource centre and providing Pathways support to all existing groups and new ones. We will continue to work with Community Energy England and share our expertise in capacity building within the sector.
Our vision is for every district, borough or unitary authority to benefit from a community energy group that can provide professional net-zero services, including renewable energy, energy efficiency advice and retrofit development.
We are excited about the next chapter for Community Energy Pathways and invite communities and local authorities to get in touch and participate in the future of local energy.
“Since 2020, Essex County Council has collaborated with Community Energy South to foster a thriving community energy sector in Essex.”
– Councillor Peter Schwier, Climate Czar, Essex County Council