Funding
Community Sustainable Energy Programme
Community based organisations in England can now apply for grants for renewable technologies through the Community Sustainable Energy Programme managed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The scheme is designed to raise public awareness of the social and environmental advantages to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in order to combat climate change.
Who can apply?
Grants are available for eligible not-for-profit community based organisations in England. This includes:
- community groups governed by a written constitution
- registered charities and trusts
- parish councils
- schools and colleges
- companies with a charitable purpose and community focus
- mutual societies
- church based and other faith organisations
What can be funded?
Two types of grant are available: capital and project development. The maximum Capital Grant available is £50,000 or 50% of the project cost (whichever is lower). The maximum Project Development Grant available is £5,000 or 75% of the study cost (whichever is lower).
Capital Grants are available for the purchase and installation of any of the technologies listed below:
- Solar Photovoltaics
- Solar Thermal Hot Water
- Wind Turbines
- Ground Source Heat Pumps/Air Source Heat Pumps
- Automated Wood Pellet Stoves
- Wood Fuelled Boiler Systems
- Micro-hydro Turbines
- Energy Efficiency Measures (only available in conjunction with the above technologies)
Project Development Grants are available for studies investigating the feasibility of installing renewable technologies. BEF is currently working with GYMC, a community interest company based in Grimsby to provide a full project development study for their new community building.
Project Development grants will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are spent. Capital Grants are awarded on a competitive basis at quarterly selection panel meetings.
BEF is a registered consultant on this scheme and are able to provide Project Development studies, for more information about these please contact BEF on 01904 554541 or email us at: bef@4sustainable-energy.co.ukAlternatively, for general information on the grants you can find more information via www.communitysustainable.org.uk
National Awards bring funding for finalists
The Shell Springboard Awards offer cash prizes of between £20,000 and £40,000 for UK based small companies to come up with commercially viable products, services or ideas that will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases. Applications are grouped in to 3 regions: Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England; Central England and Wales; and Southern England. There will be a maximum of 6 winners from each area who will each get a cash prize. Two finalists from each region will also progress to a national judging round, where one lucky winner will be named as the overall champion for 2009.
The Champion for 2007 was no other than local energy saving electrical products manufacturer MG Electrical from Scarborough. The company scooped the award for its 8to5 energy saver, a simple, cost effective fixture designed for energy efficient lighting, beating off competition from over 200 other Springboard entrants throughout the UK.
Farm Resource Efficiency Programme (FREP)
A £400,000 programme that offers grants to help improve the economic and environmental performance of livestock farming in Yorkshire and the Humber has opened a second funding round.
Yorkshire Forward’s Farm Resource Efficiency Programme (FREP) provides capital grants to support the purchase of energy efficient technologies such as small-scale wind turbines and water recycling schemes.
Funding can cover 40% of the total project cost, with grants ranging from £2,000 (for projects costing £5,000) to £20,000 (for projects costing £50,000). The scheme - part-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development - is open to any livestock business based in Yorkshire and the Humber, including dairy, pigs, poultry, sheep and beef.
Applications will be assessed as to whether they provide value for money and meet FREP priorities, along with the level of economic and environmental benefits the project will bring.
The deadline for applying to the second funding round is 27 October 2008.
As well as a completed application form, businesses must submit a range of supporting documentation, including at least three quotes for the equipment required and evidence of other funding sources. For further information please contact Yorkshire Forward on 0113 3949600 or visit www.yorkshire-forward.com
Round 3 of the Grid Connected Renewables funding is OPEN.
Future Energy Yorkshire is pleased to announce £5 million of funding to encourage the development of new renewable electricity generation in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
An application for funding is made by submitting an Expression of Interest form followed by a full application form.
The Expression of Interest form must be received by the 31st October2008 at 5pm.
The full application form must be received by the 1st December 2008 at 5 pm.
For further information please see www.fey.org.uk or if you have any questions please email gcr@fey.org.uk or phone Jemma Benson on 0113 237 8422
Barclays’ Green Loans for Business Projects
Barclays Commercial Bank is now offering a new loan scheme that offers SME’s a cash payment when they borrow money to fund environmental capital projects. Cash-back payments of between £600 and £51,000 will be available on loans ranging between £100,000 and £8.5 million, with a minimum term of five years.
The £50 million fund, which was developed in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), will be available to fund green projects such as developing low carbon technologies or making their premises more energy efficient.
Projects will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, but to be eligible the relevant planning permissions will have to be in place, including authorisation from the respective environmental and nature conservation authorities. Firms that have previously received EIB support cannot receive the cash-back payments.
For further information about how your business can be more environmentally-friendly, visit www.barclays.co.uk
The Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership – Funding for Sustainable Tourism & Business Development
The Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership was set up in 2006 to provide services to the local tourism industry and visitors to the area. One of the main aims of the Tourism Partnership is to encourage all businesses to adopt 'green' principles wherever possible. They have already held a seminar on the Green Tourism Business Scheme and a second is planned for November. 10 businesses have joined the pilot scheme and a further 10 will be financially supported in the second phase.
The ‘Partnership’ are also working to support tourism businesses by providing free business advisory on legislation, quality assurance, IT, any grants available and opportunities for marketing and developing the business. There is a limited amount of grant funding available to assist tourist accommodation and attractions with registration for quality assurance or purchase of IT equipment. These funds will only be available for a short time until the money runs out! The partnership is also expanding their training and workshops programme and free courses on a variety of subjects will be available at various venues over the next few months.
Further information about the Green Tourism Business Scheme can be found at www.green-business.co.uk
For more information on how the Yorkshire Moors and Coast Partnership can help your business or to sign up to Enewsletter, contact Val Wilson on 07875 877964 or email: val.wilson@scarborough.gov.ukor Sarah Barrowby at sarah.barrowby@scarborough.gov.uk, Tel: 01723 383611. You can also visit www.yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com.
