The MCS Foundation funded the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to deliver the Community Engagement for Renewable Energy Transition project, supporting meaningful local involvement in the rollout of renewable energy. Funding enabled CSE to apply and scale its Future Energy Landscape (FEL) approach, helping communities understand local energy options and shape development in informed and constructive ways. 

The project engaged over 1,500 residents across multiple local authority areas, supported locally appropriate renewable energy proposals, and produced practical guidance for councils to embed community engagement in planning and energy strategies. Learning from the project has also informed policy discussions on community benefits and shared ownership, demonstrating how early, well-designed engagement can build public support and accelerate a fair transition to net zero. 

Engaging communities in the energy transition 

Through the FEL approach, the project worked with local authorities and communities across multiple regions to explore how renewable energy could be developed in ways that are fair, locally appropriate and publicly supported. 

Key achievements included: 

• Engagement with over 1,500 residents through workshops, outreach and participatory activities 

• Support for renewable energy projects across multiple local authority areas 

• Development of replicable guidance and resources to help other local authorities adopt the FEL process 

By enabling communities to understand their local energy landscape and participate in decision-making, the project demonstrated how deeper engagement can help build support for renewable energy deployment. 

Supporting local authorities and replication 

A central aim of the project was to ensure learning could be scaled beyond individual case studies. The project produced practical resources to support local authorities in embedding community engagement within local planning and energy strategies.  

Partnerships with organisations including Community Energy England helped strengthen peer learning and knowledge sharing, while additional funding from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme and the National Lottery Climate Action Fund expanded the reach and impact of the FEL methodology. 

Influencing policy and practice 

The project also contributed to wider policy discussions on renewable energy deployment, advocating for: 

• Mandatory community benefits 

• Increased shared ownership of renewable energy assets 

• Planning processes that better reflect community perspectives 

Learning from the project has informed engagement with government, industry and policymakers, demonstrating the value of early, meaningful public participation in accelerating the energy transition.  

Next steps 

Building on the success of this work, CSE plans to continue delivering FEL workshops, updating toolkits, and working with East Suffolk Council to integrate the FEL approach with wider community energy initiatives. 

The project shows how well-designed community engagement can support renewable energy deployment at scale – strengthening local approval, influencing policy and helping deliver a fairer transition to net zero.