A community centre in North Yorkshire is now energy self-sufficient,  with support from the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. 

The Monk Fryston and Hillam Sustainability Project is a collaboration of community buildings, including church, church hall, primary school, community centre, cricket club and football club worked together to achieve carbon neutrality.

Through the Hub’s Rural Community Energy Fund, Monk Fryston and Hillam Community Association were granted £32,060 for a detailed feasibility study for installing energy efficiency measures on their buildings.

In May 2024, the community association achieved carbon neutrality and were self-sufficient, generating over 70 kw of surplus energy.

As part of the wider project Monk Fryston School successfully obtained a grant to install 60 solar panels with the capability to produce 20mWpa. The solar panels will power a previously installed air source heat pump, alongside other energy efficiency measures including LED lighting and a new heating system control program.

Monk Fryston & Hillam have shared their learnings from this project with other community groups across the region though the Hubs Community Energy Steering group, which was created to help develop a self-sustaining community energy sector in our region. You can view their presentation alongside other useful resources here – Community Energy Resources  

The Hub’s third round of the Community Energy Fund is open until October 13th 2024.

The funding is designed to help kickstart clean energy projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points. It can also be used to fund fuel poverty alleviation schemes such as energy efficiency, retrofit, and advice projects. It does not provide capital funding.

For more information on the Community Energy Fund, visit our website.