Durham Energy Association Ltd (DEAL) is a not-for-profit community benefit society working to deliver sustainable, reliable energy solutions for community buildings across County Durham.
DEAL focuses on installing fully funded solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage systems in community spaces, helping to reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and strengthen the long-term resilience of these vital buildings.
The organisation has brought together community representatives and technical experts from across the county to help shape DEAL and ensure strong governance, transparency, and best practice as the initiative develops.
With funding support from Great British Energy and the North East & North Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, an initial phase of feasibility studies has now been completed across 15 community buildings in County Durham, and there is a pipeline of interested organisations developing. These studies assessed the suitability of buildings for solar PV and battery storage systems and explored the potential financial and environmental benefits for each site.
DEAL is designed to help community organisations access renewable energy systems without needing to directly manage complex installation projects themselves. Where funding can be secured, DEAL aims to oversee the installation, ownership and management of the equipment on behalf of participating organisations.
By taking this approach, DEAL hopes to support community buildings to access lower-cost, sustainable energy over the long term, helping strengthen their financial resilience while reducing carbon emissions.
We are continuing discussions with many other community buildings across the county, including some that may not yet be ready due to ongoing works or other constraints. As additional funding opportunities become available, we hope to move into future phases and would be very keen for more organisations to become involved.
If this is of interest to your community organisation, we would love to hear from you to discuss your building and circumstances. We can provide a tailored assessment to explore how solar PV and battery storage could support your organisation’s sustainability and energy needs.
For more information or to get involved, please contact hilary.anderson@ruraldesigncentre.com
