Community groups, social and public sector organisations and charities across the region are being called upon to seize a major funding opportunity.
SP Electricity North West has officially opened the third phase of its Social Distribution System Operation (DSO) Fund, with applications being encouraged over the next month.
More than £100,000 is available from the fund which has been designed to support local electricity projects that accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.
The Social DSO Fund focuses on initiatives that not only deliver local environmental benefits but also have the potential to scale, creating lasting impact across communities.
Katherine Horne, SP Electricity North West’s Social DSO manager, said: “DSO to us is about how we actively manage electricity use across the region, and we’re focused on doing that in a social way, a way that benefits people locally in the communities they live and work in. The Social DSO Fund is for projects that could be scalable, collaborative but most importantly, deliver benefits across whole communities or regions.
“We know there’s huge potential within community energy to deliver innovative solutions.
“The fund has already helped numerous ideas become a reality, including installing low-carbon technologies in buildings to improving energy awareness and resilience at a local level.
“We encourage community groups to come forward and be part of building a greener, fairer energy system for all.”
Since the launch of the fund in 2025, 11 projects have been supported to a value of just under £200,000.
SP Electricity North West would like to hear from groups and organisations who may be able to submit an application which:
- Delivers projects at greater scale or across multiple sites
- Builds partnerships between communities, local authorities and other stakeholders
- Unlocks access to flexibility services and new energy opportunities
- Demonstrates measurable social, environmental and system benefits
Applications close on Friday 17 July and for more information, please visit Social DSO fund.
