Two funding initiatives help community centre to reduce bills and carbon footprint

04 Aug 2026

Two funding schemes have enabled a community centre to significantly reduce its energy costs and carbon emissions through the installation of solar panels and battery storage.

Whepstead Community Centre applied for two funding schemes: Solar for Business and the Decarbonisation Initiative Fund (DIF).

Through the Solar for Business scheme, the council designed, funded and installed an 8kW solar photovoltaics (PV) system on the community centre’s roof. Now the installation has finished, 100 per cent of the electricity generated by the system will be provided back to the community centre to use at a discounted tariff cheaper than their current electricity supplier, to help cut energy bills.

The community centre was one of 29 community groups that submitted their expression of interest for funding from the Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund (DIF), a scheme designed to support community buildings to reduce their use of carbon.

The proposal included the installation of an 8.6 kWp battery, a measure improving community resilience by including an emergency power supply for community use during power cuts.

The carbon reduction measures are estimated to save an estimated £500 on bills per year, as well as a combined 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

Garry Corcoran, Chairman of Whepstead Parish Council, said: “We are really pleased with the solar installation. We have had lots of sun over the past few weeks to thoroughly test them and we are delighted with the results. The team at West Suffolk Council were really helpful throughout the installation process, and are there to support us going forward in managing the panels and battery storage. We are charged less per unit and are so glad we applied for the funding!”

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “Both initiatives are helping community groups take practical action towards strengthening their long-term financial resilience, as well as reducing carbon emissions where possible.

“Projects such as the solar panel and battery installation at Whepstead Community Centre demonstrate how target investment can deliver benefits for both the community and the environment.”

Cllr Sarah Pugh, Whepstead and Wickhambrook district ward member, said: “Community centres play a vital role in bringing people together, and initiatives like these help ensure they remain sustainable and affordable for years to come. The installation of the solar panels and battery will provide financial savings that can be reinvested for the benefit of local residents.”

For more information on the council’s Solar for Business scheme, visit: Solar for Business

---