Grimsby Energy Collective Brings Together Local Organisations to Drive Clean Energy Collaboration
Grimsby Community Energy brought together businesses, educators, community organisations and energy sector partners for the second Grimsby Energy Collective – Inspiring Cooperative Growth, held at Parkway Cinema, Cleethorpes on Thursday 2 April 2026.
Now in its second year, the Collective continues to grow as a space designed to connect organisations, share learning and create practical opportunities for collaboration across North East Lincolnshire’s emerging clean energy sector. At its core, the event focused on a clear message: the transition to clean energy is not something that happens in isolation — it must be built collectively, through partnership, shared knowledge and local action.
Opening the event, Managing Director Dr Vicky Dunn reflected on Grimsby Community Energy reaching its tenth year and the progress made from early development work to delivering a growing portfolio of renewable energy projects. With nearly 1MW of solar PV expected to be installed by May 2026, and a sixth community share offer in preparation, the organisation continues to demonstrate what can be achieved through community ownership and reinvestment. Alongside solar, work is progressing on battery storage and new models to deliver renewable energy and support directly to households experiencing fuel poverty, ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition are shared more widely across the community.
A strong theme throughout the day was the importance of building a local workforce ready for the future. Lee Douglas from Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub highlighted the need to connect young people with real opportunities in the energy sector, emphasising the impact that meaningful employer engagement can have on long-term outcomes. His session challenged organisations to consider how they can open doors through work experience, engagement and visibility, helping young people see a future for themselves within the region.
Northern Powergrid explored how community energy projects can act as a gateway to wider support for residents. By building trusted relationships through local projects, organisations are able to connect people with energy advice, fuel poverty support and access to low-carbon technologies, reinforcing the role of community energy as not just infrastructure, but a platform for wider social impact.
Delegates also heard about the growing role of battery storage in supporting a smarter, more flexible energy system. Vest Energy shared how battery technology can help organisations and communities make better use of renewable energy, reduce costs, improve resilience and unlock new revenue opportunities, while supporting the wider transition to net zero.
The event closed with a keynote from environmental campaigner Chris Hines MBE, who delivered a passionate and thought-provoking session on the role of collaboration and action in tackling the climate challenge. Encouraging what he described as “intelligent activism”, his message focused on combining evidence, partnership working and determination to create meaningful change.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with delegates praising the quality and relevance of speakers, the variety of topics covered and the opportunity to build new connections. The keynote session was widely highlighted as a standout moment, while many attendees noted that the event had helped them better understand the opportunities emerging across the region and the importance of partnership working in unlocking them. Networking was consistently identified as one of the most valuable aspects of the day, with many delegates making connections expected to lead to future collaboration. Suggestions for future events included a greater focus on careers pathways into the sector and increased involvement from students and young people.
Beyond the presentations, the event created valuable space for conversation, collaboration and the development of new partnerships. The energy in the room reflected a growing confidence that North East Lincolnshire has both the ambition and the capability to play a leading role in the UK’s transition to clean energy. Grimsby Community Energy will now look to build on this momentum, continuing to deliver practical projects, strengthen local partnerships, and ensure that the benefits of clean energy are felt across the whole community.
