Applications are now open for our €5m /£4.3m Generation Green Community Fund

• Guidance document for applicants: Read here
• Online Applications for Republic of Ireland: Apply here

The SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund has been established to support communities across the island of Ireland in their journey towards sustainability. The fund is designed to empower local communities to take an active role in the Green Transition—a collective shift toward greener, more sustainable living.

The Generation Green Community Fund is open to a wide range of groups – whether projects are part of a grassroots organisation working on environmental awareness, a school looking to integrate sustainability into the curriculum, or a social enterprise creating green solutions, this fund is here to support their vision.

Getting to net zero is in everyone’s interest and local communities will be at the heart of the energy transition.

What does the fund support?

The fund will be structured around two key strands that each have set focus areas. Applicants will apply to one strand per project and align their applications to at least one focus area. The focus area descriptions are given as a guide to the type of programmes that will be funded – projects could support more than one focus area.

Strand 1 – Education for a Sustainable Future

Objective: Empower young people and the broader community with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to the Green Transition, fostering the next generation of climate leaders.

Focus Areas:

1. STEM and Climate Education: Programmes working with primary and secondary schools that promote STEM education with a focus on climate and energy-related subjects
2. Green Curriculum and Schools Funding: Schools, education centres or organisations that develop and implement sustainability focused curricula and initiatives.
3. Youth Engagement and Innovation: Programmes that develop youth-led sustainability initiatives and competitions that encourage innovation in climate solutions.
4. Community Education and Engagement: Programmes that may consist of community workshops, awareness campaigns or educational programmes that promote sustainable living, renewable energy and climate action at grassroots level.
5. Green Skills and Employability Programmes: Programmes that provide training and certification in Green Skills (e.g. renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, sustainable construction etc.).

Strand 2 – Community-Led Sustainability Projects

Objective: Empower local communities to lead and implement sustainability projects that contribute to net zero goals, ensuring long term impact and local ownership.

Focus Areas:

1. Climate Resilience Planning: Initiatives that assist communities in developing climate action plans that address local vulnerabilities to climate change
2. Sustainable Infrastructure Development: Green infrastructure projects like eco-friendly community hubs or retrofitting of existing buildings with renewable energy and energy-saving technologies (e.g. solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, LED lighting etc.).
3. Community Environmental Programmes: Community programmes that will develop environmental projects like community gardens, biodiversity projects, conservation projects and nature trails etc.
4. Circular Economy and Waste Reduction Initiatives: Projects focused on waste reduction, recycling and initiatives promoting the circular economy (e.g. community repair cafes, upcycling centres or local composting programmes).
5. Eco friendly travel initiatives – Initiatives that promote eco-friendly travel in communities like Bicycle infrastructure, public transit upgrades and electrification, local travel infrastructure.

What size grants are available?

Applicants can apply for funding between €10,000 and €250,000 by submitting a detailed project proposal through our online application portal. Each proposal should outline the project’s alignment with one of the fund’s key strands, demonstrate anticipated social and environmental impacts, and provide a clear budget breakdown. Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis, with priority given to projects that exhibit long-term sustainability, community engagement, and measurable impact toward net-zero goals.

How to apply to the Generation Green Community Fund

Guidance document for applicants: Read here

Online Applications for Republic of Ireland: Apply here

You can apply online until 10 January 2025.