Energising the North East with Carbon Literacy training

We are pleased to be working with the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub as their training partner for free Carbon Literacy training, designed to empower the region with the knowledge, tools and confidence to inspire and lead community energy initiatives.

The project follows our partnership on similar energy and training projects, such as our collaboration with Derbyshire Dales Community Energy for their community consultation, plus our roll out of Carbon Literacy training across 12 local authorities in partnership with the South West Net Zero Hub. Our collaboration on this impactful project to support the delivery of community energy initiatives across the region.

What is community energy?

Community energy has been frequently recognised as an important part of our national net zero transition, highlighted in the UK Government's Net Zero Strategy, It typically refers to locally-based, small-scale renewable energy projects that are set up, owned by and providing support to communities including neighbourhoods, cooperatives and non-profit.

Because of the locally owned production, community energy can increase energy security by separating energy prices from the fluctuating global energy markets and provide local storage which builds resilience against overloading and power outages of the national grid, In addition, they are an enabler of a just transition by distributing ownership and power across communities, supporting local economic development and tackling fuel poverty, all while empowering them with the recognition that they can be players in climate action. .

Last year, the government's Local Power Plan set a target to have up to one million new 'owners' of community energy by 2030, as part of their target of the UK being powered by 100% clean energy by 2030. To achieve this target, Community Energy England estimate that the sector would need to double in size every year, as it did between 2014 and 2017. In their State of the Sector Report 2025, they highlight that, with the establishment of Great British energy, the next two years could bring great opportunities and importance for the community energy sector.

What are we delivering?

The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub are funding free Carbon Literacy training designed to give regional stakeholders the knowledge, tools and confidence to inspire and lead community energy initiatives,. This is part of their fantastic work developing the local community energy sector. We are pleased to be their training partner to deliver this impactful project, merging our expertise in training, Carbon Literacy and community energy.

Carbon Literacy is about understanding how everyday activities impact on our environment – and what we can do about it as individuals, communities and organisations. With tailored content adapted to the needs and opportunities of local community energy, the training can exist as a valuable step to commence or progress the development of local energy projects.

Tailored training courses are being delivered to local authorities, local community energy groups, VSCE sector, private energy companies and more between now and March 2026. The events will all help attendees to:

• Learn practical, solution-focused strategies to reduce carbon emissions

• Discover how community energy projects can benefit their organisations and local areas

• Collaborate with like-minded groups to develop impactful initiatives

• Obtain certified Carbon Literate status

Are you interested? Join us!

Do you work with or are you part of a community energy group or third sector organisation in the North East or Yorkshire? Do you have the ambition to drive forward local energy projects? Then apply to join the training! You can find all the upcoming training dates and apply via our Eventbrite page.

If you are outside of the region and interested, don't worry! We are offering paid spots available which you can find on the same pages. We would love to support your projects. If you are interested in community energy, we highly recommend the excellent resources of the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.