EAST Lancashire power operator Electricity North West has made £100,000 available for community energy projects.

Organisations from across the region can bid for grants of up to £15,000 for new schemes.

The deadline for the 'Powering our Communities' programme applications is Friday, July 26 with successful groups notified in September.

The firm is looking to support communities to develop their energy projects by providing early stage funding to help get their projects going.

That might include developing a local plan, engagement activities, overcoming a specific barrier, feasibility studies or business plan development.

Since launching, Electricity North West has awarded groups and organisations across the region £480,000 to benefit local communities.

Helen Seagrave, Electricity North West’s community energy manager, said: “To bring back Powering our Communities for a seventh year highlights our commitment as a business to supporting community energy.

“The funding we’ve provided has helped make major differences across the region and each year, we’re seeing stronger applications along with a growing interest in community energy.

“Community energy has a huge role to play in the North West as we all switch to using more, clean green electricity for things like transport and heating.

"Projects range from solar panels to wind power, and all contribute to reaching the North West’s net zero targets.”

Electricity North West wants to target schemes which scale up the delivery of a community or local energy project or group, or projects that address specific barriers that are holding back the development of community or local energy.