An energy co-operative is helping provide solar power and better insulation to the people of South East London – and free of charge.
South East London Community Energy (SELCE) is bringing free training to Lewisham and surrounding areas to make homes more energy-efficient.
Neighbourhoods in Greenwich, Bexley, Bromley, Lewisham and Southwark could enjoy the scheme, with over £10,000 of funding granted to SELCE.
With workshops and support sessions provided, the programme is being offered to streets, communities and groups to encourage community building alongside greening.
As a result of the scheme, locals could save up to £440 a year via solar panels and insulation.
The scheme will be tailored to the communities that apply for it, but it could involve training parties, walking tours, webinars, eco-home tours, training for community champions and one-to-one support.
SELCE CEO Giovanna Speciale elaborated on what SELCE stands for: “A future where energy is generated locally, renewably and democratically, used wisely and where nobody is left behind in the journey.”
On the free training scheme, Speciale said: “One of the biggest barriers to retrofit is that people are always trying to do it as a single household on their own.
“It’s much better to engage communities and neighbourhoods in retrofit so that neighbourhoods can support one another, so that’s what we’re trying to do in Southwark.”
Despite a tough year in 2025, Speciale said: “We kept delivering award-winning retrofit advice and developed new ways of working with Lewisham Council to support the retrofit of council homes.”
Discussing the progress of the programme, SELCE community engagement officer Hanna Tweg said: “We are in the process of coordinating with Dulwich residents as well as the Camberwell Society.
“We are looking for Southwark streets or neighbourhoods around Camberwell and Dulwich to support residents in learning about retrofit.”
A 71-year-old SELCE client with asthma and arthritis from a previous scheme said: “It might seem small to some, but for us, it’s a big thing.
“I actually cried because it meant I could heat my home and sit in comfort.”
Part of SELCE’s funding for the programme was awarded by the Southwark Community Energy Fund, which has just opened a new round of funding.
This opens up new opportunities for community energy charities and renewable businesses, which is more vital now than ever, with some of London’s worst-emitting boroughs sitting in the South East.
Bromley and Bexley were both in the top five highest-emitting London boroughs over a 12-month-period, according to the most recent data from the Greater London Authority, released in December 2025.
Meanwhile, a climate resilience report released by Southwark council in 2023 shows how climate change in Southwark could see average yearly temperature increase by 3.06° by 2070.
With a projected yearly average temperature almost two degrees higher than the rest of the UK, Southwark was sixth out of UK authorities for vulnerability to heat risk, according to the same data set.
Despite this, work continues across the borough and its neighbouring areas to reduce emissions in a way that benefits locals.
Barrie Hargrove, one of Southwark’s councillors and ex-Mayor of Southwark, commented on the progress of Peckham, a key area.
“My approach is mostly about housing, sometimes about environment, and sometimes about antisocial behaviour,” he said.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have new council homes opened. Some of these homes have environmental measures like solar panels and better insulation.”
Those interested in SELCE’s free training programme can find out more on their website.
Featured image credit: SELCE
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