On 28 July 2026, Corena’s Head of Operations, Sarah McCabe, hosted an informal online Q&A session about community energy fund loans. It was open to community organisations, not-for-profits, and social enterprises interested in energy efficiency, solar, batteries, and EV projects.
These sessions are deliberately low-key. They’re not a typical webinar, so people feel comfortable jumping in with questions as we go. Sarah started with a brief overview of how Corena’s revolving energy fund works, who’s eligible, and how to apply. Then she opened the floor for discussion.
Some great questions came up, from loan limits and eligibility to how larger, more ambitious community energy projects might work with us. We’ve pulled together the most useful ones below, in case you’ve been wondering about them too.
Questions From the Session
Is there an upper limit on community energy fund loan size?
Currently, loans go up to around $150,000. We expect to offer larger loans as the fund continues to grow. There’s no minimum loan size — we’ve funded projects as small as $5,000.
Can organisations that lease their building still apply?
Yes. Leasing organisations are welcome to apply, as long as the lease runs longer than the loan term and the landlord gives permission.
Can local governments apply for a loan?
Yes. We’re very open to working with local governments, and often do already. Councils are frequently the landlords for other organisations we support.
Would Corena partner with another fund to co-finance a project?
Yes, we’re keen to explore this. Project costs are rising, especially as battery storage becomes standard in solar projects. Partnering with other community energy funds or groups lets us pool resources, spread risk, and take on projects too large for either fund alone.
Would Corena fund the early feasibility stage of a large-scale project?
For example, securing an option on land before a larger project is fully approved.
This sits a bit outside our usual approach. Corena typically funds projects at a later stage, once approvals are in place and there’s a clear way to repay the loan through energy savings or income. That said, we’re genuinely interested in ambitious early-stage projects. Send us a summary — we’re always happy to talk it through, even if it doesn’t fit our standard loan model.
Join Our Next Community Energy Fund Q&A Session
Did these questions spark your own? Maybe about eligibility, loan size, or project types. Our next Q&A session is a great, no-pressure way to get answers. Whether you’re just starting to think about solar, batteries, or electrification for your organisation, or you’re further along and want to talk through the details, we’d love to have you along.
We look forward to seeing you there.