Zero Carbon Llanidloes is celebrating this week after being awarded £10,000 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

The community group, focused on climate ecological issues, will use the funding to run a project called ‘Llanidloes Futures’.

The initial part of the project will be the employment of a ‘Solar Champion’ for three months, who will assess the benefits to the community of the roll out of Solar Photo Voltaic Electricity Generation (Solar PV).

The ‘Solar Champion’ will engage with the community in developing plans for domestic and non-domestic Solar PV, looking at various funding options and finding installers, preferably local, to carry out the work.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.

Dr. Duncan Burwood, Steering Group member of Zero Carbon Llanidloes, said:

“Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can start to tackle rising energy costs and energy insecurity in and around Llanidloes.

“Solar PV electricity currently costs about 8p/unit to produce, and is unlikely to rise. Mains electricity costs at least 20p/unit, likely to rise dramatically over the next year.

“This project could greatly improve people’s lives & finances, as well as being a first step in moving towards Net Zero.”

Anyone interested in installing Solar PV can contact Duncan Burwood at: [email protected]