First community renewable energy grant awarded to Dryslwyn Community Shop

Carmarthenshire County Council is pleased to announce that the first project funded through the Community Renewable Energy Grant (CREG) programme has now been approved, marking an important milestone in the county's efforts to support community-led energy efficiency and sustainability projects.

Interest in the fund has been exceptionally strong, with significant demand from community organisations across the region since applications opened earlier this summer.

The first successful applicant, Dryslwyn Community Shop, has secured funding to install energy-efficiency measures at its new community-owned premises. The project will help ensure the building operates as efficiently as possible from the outset, reducing energy consumption and operating costs while supporting the long-term sustainability of this valued local asset, ensuring it can continue to serve the community for years to come.

The Community Renewable Energy Grant programme was established to help community organisations improve the energy performance of their buildings, reduce carbon emissions and strengthen resilience against rising energy costs.

Due to the high level of interest, the capital funding allocated through the programme has now been fully committed. However, support remains available through a free energy audit service for community buildings across Carmarthenshire.

The audits provide organisations with a detailed understanding of their energy usage, identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and help develop practical plans to reduce energy consumption and costs.

Community groups interested in receiving support are encouraged to find out more and apply for a free energy audit via the programme's website.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said:

We have been delighted by the level of interest in the Community Renewable Energy Grant programme and are pleased to see Dryslwyn Community Shop become the first project to benefit from this funding. Community buildings play a vital role in the life of our towns and villages, and supporting them to implement energy-efficiency measures will help reduce costs, lower emissions and strengthen their long-term sustainability."

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans, said:

Dryslwyn Community Shop demonstrates what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared vision. The shop has become an important focal point for local residents, and supporting projects like this helps ensure our rural communities remain vibrant places to live, work and visit.

I am pleased to see the project receive this funding and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for local people."

The programme has been made possible through funding secured from the Local Growth Fund for Wales. Additional support has been provided by Egni Sir Gâr, the council-established community energy society. In accordance with the society's objectives, income generated through the sale of surplus renewable electricity to the National Grid is reinvested into community projects. This funding has helped expand the programme's impact, enabling further investment in capital equipment and increasing the number of community projects able to benefit from energy-efficiency measures.

For more information and to apply for a free energy audit, visit the Council’s website: https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/business/funding/community-renewable-energy-grant/