Durham Energy Association Limited Officially Established
A major milestone for community-led clean energy in County Durham
We are delighted to announce that Durham Energy Association Limited (DEAL) was officially established on 11 May 2026 as a Community Benefit Society (CBS). The establishment of DEAL has been supported through the Great British Energy Community Fund, announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and delivered locally by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, and forms part of the Climate Action in the Rural North East (CAIRN) programme, funded by the National Lottery. CAIRN brings together a strong regional partnership led by Community Action Northumberland alongside Rural Design Centre, Durham Community Action, and the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise which engages with stakeholders across the rural North East including the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.
Building on learning from Northumberland Community Energy Limited
It has taken 18 months of research, collaboration, and community engagement to establish Durham Energy Association Limited. Working closely with Durham Community Action, and with structured governance support from Co‑operatives UK, the project team focused on ensuring the right model was developed, one that reflects local need, strong governance, and genuine community voice.
DEAL builds on and adapts learning from its sister organisation, Northumberland Community Energy Limited, with a clear focus on installing solar PV and battery storage on community buildings across County Durham. The aim is to scale up delivery in areas where energy savings are needed most, supporting more resilient, affordable, and locally owned energy systems.
Great British Energy funding has enabled DEAL to:
Take forward the strong governance and operational foundations
Begin feasibility studies for the first 15 community buildings across the county
In addition, the Great British Energy Community Fund has supported feasibility and business case development for community EV chargepoints across Teesdale, focusing initially on 5 deep rural and underserved areas. This work is helping to ensure communities are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicles, particularly residents without off‑street parking, by creating access to affordable, community‑owned charging infrastructure.
Kate Burrows, Executive Director of Durham Community Action said “We are delighted to be part of DEAL and the truly community led approach at the heart of its development. It is fantastic news for County Durham and here at DCA we are looking forward to seeing the benefits unfold for much-valued community buildings and the local communities they serve.”
This has been a genuinely collaborative effort built over time. We are grateful to all our partners, and most importantly to the communities who have helped shape DEAL from the outset. It’s a big DEAL for Durham — and this is just the beginning.