Almost £345,000 has been allocated by SSEN Distribution to not‑for‑profit groups across central southern England in the 2025 round of its Powering Communities to Net Zero fund.

Thirty‑two projects in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire, West Sussex, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight will share the grants. The programme backs both low‑carbon upgrades—such as solar panels, battery storage, EV charge points and heat pumps—and measures that boost community resilience to severe weather impacts on the electricity network.

In total, 10 low‑carbon technology projects will receive £129,000, while 22 resilience initiatives share £215,000. Successful bids span solar and battery systems for community hubs, energy‑efficient heating for village halls, and equipment to support residents during flooding.

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One recipient, Dilton Memorial Hall in Wiltshire, secured more than £18,000 to install solar PV and battery storage—cutting bills and emissions while strengthening the hall's long‑term viability.

Ray Jones, a trustee at Dilton Memorial Hall, said: "This is something we have wanted to do for some time and thankfully, the grant funding from SSEN has allowed us to achieve our aim now, rather than years in the future".

SSEN Distribution's Services Director, Eliane Algaard, said: "I'm really heartened to see groups across the south of England submitting excellent applications to fund schemes that'll deliver meaningful benefits to their local communities.

"The variety of applications received has once again been particularly impressive. Whether they're taking the initiative by making plans to be better prepared ahead of severe weather or are investing to cut the carbon emissions from their day-to-day activities, all the communities who submitted applications are to be commended.

"We're proud to be supporting the ambitions of those successful applicants, and we wish them well as they now work to move their projects forward."

The Powering Communities to Net Zero fund totals £3m and runs annually to Spring 2028, aligning with the end of the current ED2 price control period. The next application window for the 2026 round opens in March, and SSEN has published a full list of this year's recipients for central southern England.