Our work with Ripple
Our work with the Low Carbon Hub
Community Energy Kickstart case study
Powering Communities Fund case studies
Meet the Team
Supporting groups with the Community Power Tariff
What is community energy?
Our team
5 Years of Powering Communities & What’s Next
‘The Co-op and Octopus Energy have today announced the launch of a new community energy firm.’
That was the headline splashed across major news outlets in the UK & Europe over five years ago, when a fresh-faced Greg Jackson’s Octopus Energy acquired Co-op Energy. Together, they decided to create a joint venture dedicated to supporting renewable energy projects.
About the project
The Launch of Co-op Community Energy and Early Milestones
Accompanying that headline was the announcement that this joint venture—then called Co-op Community Energy (not quite as catchy as Younity!)—had secured five new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), bringing its portfolio to 79 sites.
A lot has changed in the 5 years, 3 months, 14 days, and 25 minutes since that launch—including our name! But one thing has remained constant: our mission "to support the growth of community-owned renewable energy across the UK." We’re proud to be pioneers and innovators, offering a helping hand where it’s needed and getting projects off the ground—whether through funding, knowledge sharing, or connecting groups with the volunteers they need to take the next step.
Evolving to Younity: A New Chapter in Our Journey
In April 2021, Your Co-op Community Energy evolved into Younity, proudly becoming the UK’s largest buyer of community-generated energy—a title we earned after implementing 100+ bespoke Power Purchase Agreements…and the rest as they say…
Almost four years on, we’ve transformed into a business that champions community energy in all its forms. Now supporting over 310 sites, our portfolio has nearly quadrupled, and the support we offer to groups has evolved dramatically.
Through our Kickstart Loan facility, which offers up to £1.5 million of bridging finance, we funded Bristol Energy Co-op to build the UK's largest community owned solar rooftop installation on a studio in Bristol. This huge rooftop solar array saves 200 tonnes of CO₂ annually, helping to combat climate change by reducing global warming. The redevelopment of the Bottle Yard Studios has been key to revitalising South Bristol, and we’re incredibly proud to have supported this project.
Each year, we provide up to £15,000 in grant funding through our Powering Communities Fund, Available to any groups with an active PPA with us or those who have used our Kickstart Loan facility—no small print or hidden T&Cs, just genuine support for great groups doing good work. That money can go on anything…well not quite anything, but anything that is creating a positive social impact to your local community. Previous winners have used the funding for school projects teaching kids about climate change, repair workshops, sharing sheds in remote areas, and even buying infrared cameras to help vulnerable pensioners.
So…firstly if you’re still reading, thank you - you’re a real one! Because of people like you, and the thousands of amazing folks in the community energy sector, we’re committed to supporting the movement. We’re going to continue listening to what the sector needs, to what you tell us you need, and work around that.
We’ve got some big plans in 2025, from partnering with Do It to level up our Connect Platform, to growing community energy in areas of the UK that need it most, through partnerships, knowledge-sharing and putting our money where our mouth is.
Community Energy Connect opened the door to a whole new opportunity for me!
Sarah, Volunteer
We’re going to keep on travelling up and down the country, going to events, hosting workshops and meeting the groups we’ve partnered with. So, keep your eyes peeled, community energy is growing like crazy, with over 600 groups now in the UK, and it's playing its part in the UK’s goal to achieve Net Zero, and we’re excited to be there every step of the way!