Watt a journey - Younity turns 5!
This article will take approximately 1 minute to read
Published 19 Dec 2024 in Trading Groups
This year has marked the fifth anniversary of the launch of Younity, our joint venture with Octopus Energy, which has quickly become a powerhouse representing over a third of the UK’s community energy sector. Congratulations!
Younity has led the way in accelerating the sector’s growth, purchasing power from more than 100 community-owned energy-production schemes, with 300 agreements in place, and generating green power for over 60,000 homes.
To turbocharge the growth of new and existing projects making a positive impact in communities, it launched several initiatives to unlock funding.
Who are Younity?
Its ‘Community Energy Kickstart’ provides loans for construction costs – and enabled Bristol Energy Co-operative to install the UK’s biggest community-owned solar rooftop project.
Its ‘Powering Communities Fund’ has provided funding to support and amplify over 20 projects, from clean energy education, skills training for green jobs and more.
Younity's Kickstarter Fund is a boost for community energy
In addition, Younity’s tech innovation like its ‘Community Energy Connect’ online platform has brought together hundreds of people to share expertise and grow the sector.
Building on these successes, Younity is now looking to further expand in the Midlands and the North of England, where it plans to double projects by 2030.
Community energy has delivered £4.4 million of bill savings through energy efficiency and advice since 2020*. Through this expansion into more regions in the UK, Younity will bring the social and economic benefits of community energy to even more people.
This comes as the sector is on a major growth trajectory, with the Labour government’s Local Power Plan aiming to invest £1 billion into community energy projects a year.
*Community Energy State of the Sector 2024, UK sector overview