The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is a key partner in Mission Net Zero, a £5 million initiative to accelerate Bristol and the West of England’s transition to net zero by 2030. The project is funded by Innovate UK and will run from April 2024 to November 2025.

Mission Net Zero aims to reduce the region’s carbon emissions in ways that align with local priorities and correspond with Just Transition principles.

The project will:

• Support local neighbourhoods to develop climate action projects.
• Explore strategic investment opportunities to channel funding into local climate projects.
• Develop opportunities for green jobs and training in the region.

Transforming Energy Together

CSE’s main role is delivering the Transforming Energy Together programme. This programme supports three community anchor organisations to develop community climate investment plans and explore funding opportunities to turn them into a reality. We’re working with Bristol City Council, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership and Bristol Energy Network to help these organisations identify and develop investible community energy projects. The projects focus on generating renewable energy locally and reducing energy use in homes and neighbourhoods in the region.

The three neighbourhoods

The three community anchor organisations representing these areas are The three community anchor organisations representing these areas are Southmead Development Trust, Eastside Community Trust and Knowle West Media Centre and WeCanMake.

Each organisation has strengthened their existing climate action plans through targeted community engagement and research, creating comprehensive needs assessments for their neighbourhoods. Through this process, the neighbourhoods have collectively identified three key themes for their community climate investment plans:

• Domestic street-based retrofit.
• Maximising community value of assets (such as community buildings and spaces).
• Building skills and community wealth.

Walking tours

In November 2024, the Mission Net Zero partnership spent the day walking around the three neighbourhoods, seeing and hearing from each organisation what their communities have to offer to a just energy transition. In addition to the Transforming Energy Together cohort, we were joined by Bristol City Council, Retrofit West, Living Places, Bristol Energy Network and Jess Steele from Jericho Road Solutions.

We visited community centres, walked along residential streets and engaged with key community assets (including shopping districts, allotments and cycle & footpaths). These tours really demonstrated the additional benefits of community organisations leading the energy transition from the ground-up as a trusted champion driving positive change.

Coming up

The remaining phase of the project is focussed on developing project proposals, enabling studies, and business cases to inform each community climate investment plan. Working groups have been set up with Mission Net Zero partners and sector specialists to share knowledge and experience. These groups will run alongside another sprint of engagement, including door knocking, training, and events to discuss ideas with members of the local communities.

CSE is also contributing to the wider Mission Net Zero project by offering local authorities access to tools and data to develop robust sustainable energy projects and creating opportunities for young people to participate in net zero decision-making.

Mission Net Zero partners

To deliver this project, we’re working alongside:

• Bristol City Council
• Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership
• Bristol Energy Network
• Bristol City Leap
• South Gloucestershire Council
• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• North Somerset Council
• National Grid Electricity Distribution
• Bristol and Bath Regional Capital
• West of England Combined Authority