TWO community projects run by Cumbria Action for Sustainability have been awarded a share of £25,000 in funding to help support the region’s transition to net zero.

Electricity North West has awarded the money as part of its annual Powering our Communities scheme, which supports the development of community and local energy initiatives in the region from solar projects to renewable and energy conservation schemes.

One of the projects is in partnership with the Cumbria Farmer Network and will investigate the viability of on-farm renewables in Fell Foot.

A separate project aims to increase the amount of community owned solar across Cumbria focusing efforts in Keswick and the Duddon Valley.

This year, Electricity North West has awarded a total of more than £78,000 in grants to six projects across the North West.

Helen Seagrave, community energy manager at Electricity North West, said: “The North West has some of the most ambitious net zero targets in the UK, and achieving them will require us all to play a part in using less power or generating greener, cleaner energy in future. These local projects are tackling that head-on.

“For us, it’s the fourth year of the Powering our Communities Fund and we’ve been blown away once again by the strength of the applications we received.”

Find out more about the six projects and the Powering Our Community fund, here on Electricity North West’s website.