About Us

We are the Northern Powergrid Foundation, a grant-making charity that helps communities in our region become more resilient to energy changes. So far, we’ve supported over 90 communities with more than £1.3 million to create warm and safe spaces for residents.

Our projects not only strengthen community resilience but also promote greener energy. This includes installing solar panels, battery storage, and heat pumps.

We believe in the power of community. That’s why we provide the funding and support needed to help people adapt to environmental, economic, and societal changes in the energy sector.

Take a look at some of our work

Our aim is to improve access to energy resilience, net zero networks, and fuel poverty innovation to communities in the Northern Powergrid area.

Here are stories from our first year: Dipton Jubilee Centre, Stocksfield Community Centre, and Upper Don Community Energy were among the 93 communities we’ve supported.

We can help you

Twice a year, we offer grant funding of up to £20k to community resilience projects.

Projects include setting up community hubs with solar panels, heat pumps, and generators to ensure safety during power outages, helping them to become self-sufficient and reduce energy waste.

Our successful 2024 applicants are currently delivering their community energy resilience projects with our support.

We will be open again for new applications on 17th March 2025!

To understand the projects we support, read our Grant-Making Policy, and application toolkit. Visit our Grants Awarded page to see how communities are becoming energy resilient with our help. Check our frequently asked questions for any queries you may have. For early grant application development, view the application questions. 

Our communities are benefitting

Suzanne Longley, Northcliffe Environmental Enterprises Team said “At N.E.E.T we are extremely grateful to Northern Powergrid Foundation for the opportunity to develop our site with a renewable energy source, incorporating our sustainability goals. The support from Northern Powergrid Foundation through the application process and afterwards has been excellent and their commitment to understanding and engaging with communities facing real energy challenges is genuine and makes a difference.”

Karen Froggatt, CEO of The Glendale Gateway Trust said: "Working together with Wooler Parish Council our plans to further our role as an emergency response hub for local residents and vital services have come to fruition with the Foundation funded generator to go alongside our solar panels and battery storage. The existing kit didn’t have enough capacity to support the whole centre, but the generator can now support this. The centre tries to accommodate the community‘s needs, but we can't do this alone, we are fortunate to have received funding to support our resilience project."  

Other community support available

Northern Powergrid, the electricity distributor for the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, supports the community in which it serves with services offered to those that need extra advice or support in a power cut, can advise on how to prepare for power interruptions, especially during the winter months and through partners provide energy advice support.