Grimsby Community Energy Takes Centre Stage at Co-op Congress 2026

Grimsby Community Energy was proud to be represented at Co-op Congress 2026, the annual gathering of the UK’s co-operative movement, held in Birmingham on 12 and 13 June.

Now in its 156th year, Co-op Congress is often described as the “parliament” of the UK co-operative movement, bringing together co-operatives, mutuals, policymakers and community leaders from across the country to share ideas, discuss challenges and shape the future of the sector.

This year’s theme, “Co-operate and we can change the world”, focused on the power of collective action and the role co-operatives can play in tackling some of society’s biggest challenges.

Representing Grimsby Community Energy, Managing Director Dr Vicky Dunn joined a national panel discussion exploring The Local Power Plan and the opportunity for co-operatives. The session examined how the Government’s ambitious plans for local energy could create new opportunities for communities to own and benefit from renewable energy projects.

Vicky joined speakers from Great British Energy, Community Energy England, Community Energy London, the Co-operative Party and other co-operative organisations to discuss how communities can play a greater role in generating and managing their own energy.

The discussion focused on the Government’s Local Power Plan, which aims to support more than 1,000 local energy projects by 2030 and ensure every community has the opportunity to benefit from energy ownership.

Speaking from Grimsby Community Energy’s experience, Vicky shared how community-owned renewable energy projects are already delivering benefits locally, from generating clean electricity and reducing carbon emissions to creating opportunities for local investment and community benefit funding.

The event also provided an opportunity to learn from co-operatives operating in a wide range of sectors, including social care, food production, housing, community development and retail. Throughout the two-day programme, delegates explored how co-operatives can work together to build stronger local economies, create meaningful employment opportunities and support thriving communities.

For Grimsby Community Energy, the Congress reinforced the growing recognition of community energy as an important part of the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future.

Dr Vicky Dunn said:

“It was fantastic to represent Grimsby Community Energy at Co-op Congress and to be part of a national conversation about the future of community energy. The Government’s Local Power Plan presents a huge opportunity for communities like Grimsby to play a greater role in generating and owning clean energy. We have already shown what can be achieved through community ownership, and we’re excited to continue building on that success.”

As a community benefit society, Grimsby Community Energy is proud to be part of the wider co-operative movement, demonstrating how local people can come together to create practical solutions that benefit both communities and the environment.

The conversations and connections made at Co-op Congress will help inform our future work as we continue to develop new renewable energy projects, support local communities and ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are shared locally.

We would like to thank Co-operatives UK for organising another inspiring Congress and for continuing to champion the role of co-operatives in building a fairer, greener and more democratic economy.