The Diocese of Bath and Wells has secured funding from the South West Net Zero Hub to explore the possibility of creating a community energy model that could deliver renewable energy projects for the benefit of churches, schools and wider communities. It has appointed community energy consultancy Pure Leapfrog to carry out an extensive exploration into the concept and look at the options available.
Community energy projects seek to overcome one of the main barriers to installing renewable energy technology, the high upfront costs. The project supports the diocese’s aspiration to become net zero carbon by 2030.
Dan Wills, Net Zero Project Lead for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, said:
“This is a potentially transformative project for Bath and Wells. By working in partnership with Pure Leapfrog we can explore whether a community energy model could help unlock renewable energy across our churches, schools and land in a way that reduces energy bills, strengthens local energy independence and supports our ambition to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
“At this stage we are undertaking a detailed exploration. We don’t yet know what the final model may look like. However, if successful it could open the door to delivering renewable energy projects at a much greater scale while also creating wider benefits for local communities.”
Bath and Wells is the first diocese to explore community energy to this extent and will seek to share its learning with the national church and other dioceses across the country. The project began in January 2026 and will run for 12 months.