Some community energy groups are registered charities, but many are not. Most are set up as Community Benefit Societies or Community Interest Companies (CICs), which allow them to trade and generate income while staying focused on community benefit. Whether or not they’re a charity, their main goal is social and environmental good — not private profit.

Community energy groups can generate income, but they are usually not-for-profit , co-operative organisations. Any surplus they make is reinvested into local energy projects or used to support community benefit activities, like tackling fuel poverty or funding climate action. The focus is on delivering social and environmental impact rather than private profit.

Anyone can set up a community energy group — it’s often started by local residents, climate activists, or community organisations who want to take action on energy and climate issues. You don’t need to be an energy expert, but having a mix of skills (like project management, finance, and communications) in your group helps. The key is having a shared goal to benefit the community through cleaner, fairer energy.

While community energy groups focus on energy — like solar, energy efficiency, or heat decarbonisation — their work often goes beyond that. Many also tackle fuel poverty, support climate education, create green jobs, or help build more resilient local economies. At their core, they’re about community-led action for a fairer, greener future, with energy as the starting point.