Grants available for local resilience and low carbon projects
A new round of grants for local organisations has opened up as part of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution Powering Communities to Net Zero (PCNZ) fund.
The Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for the north of Scotland is now welcoming applications from communities, charities and local not-for-profit groups through its PCNZ webpage.
Applications are open until noon on Thursday, May 21 and the fund, which was introduced as part of SSEN’s current business plan, is awarding £3m in shareholder-funded grants by 2028 through two categories:-
- Physical and environmental resilience: This provides grants to support communities during prolonged power interruptions caused by storms, and aid their ability to cope in periods of severe weather.
- Low-carbon technologies: This is to help support the purchase and adoption of new Low-Carbon Technologies like heat pumps and solar panels – and energy-saving measures when combined with LCT installations – by non-profit organisations.
In 2025, SSEN awarded £349,000 to a total of 25 community projects via the fund.
Ten low-carbon technology and 15 resilience projects were supported, with values of £189,000 and £160,000 respectively.
The UK’s changing weather patterns and more volatile climate have been reflected in windier, wetter winters and hotter summers, increasing the need for communities to prepare and adapt. In acknowledging this, SSEN intends to allocate around half of this year’s funding for applications relating to physical and environmental resilience measures. The maximum award in this category has also been increased, to allow grants of up to £20,000 to be awarded.
The remaining share of the fund will be available for non-profit organisations to apply for grants to go towards the purchase of new low-carbon technologies. Projects that are well advanced in their development will be prioritised.
Grants of up to £20,000 will be awarded to successful applicants in this category.
Chris Burchell, SSEN Distribution’s managing director, said: “This year, we’re committing to help even more local organisations in their efforts to enhance and support their communities, and to help them to stay resilient during severe weather or support their sustainability goals.
“Since the fund’s launch, we’ve awarded over £1.62 million across our licence areas to support this mission. We look forward to receiving this year’s applications and continuing to back projects that make a meaningful difference.”
Guidance documents and application forms can be found at www.ssen.co.uk/pcnz. Eligible projects must help communities that lie wholly within the SSEN’s network area. Groups do not need to be registered charities to apply, but organisations sending in an application must have a constitution and be set up on a not-for-profit basis.
To help support applicants, a webinar will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4p37fw24.