Funding
On this page you will find information and links to different sources of funding, grants and tax reliefs which have been divided into the following categories:
• installation funding
• development funding
The information supplied is up-to-date to the best of our knowledge. If you are aware of any updates or new sources of funding, please email green@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk and let us know.
Energy Saving Scotland- Small Business Loans (previously Loan Action Scotland)
Interest-free loans to improve energy efficiency within your company. The scheme aims to support companies that are looking to reduce energy consumption through replacing old and inefficient technology or those looking to install renewable energy technologies. The minimum loan is £1,000 the maximum loan is £100,000. For energy efficiency measures, the value of the loan and the length of repayment offered will normally be based on the saving predicted in the energy review.
For more information about the loans scheme please call the Energy Saving Trust Service Delivery team on 0131 555 7900 (and select option 1) or e-mail smallbusinessloans@est.org.uk.
Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) Scheme
The ECA Scheme offers tax relief. It enables businesses to claim 100% first-year capital allowances on their spending on qualifying energy saving, low carbon emission or water conservation plant and machinery. A list of qualifying equipment can be found by clicking here.
The scheme is open to all businesses that pay UK corporation or income tax.
The Carbon Trust’s Energy-Efficiency Loans
Small or medium-sized businesses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can borrow from £3,000 to £400,000. The loan is now also available to larger companies that do not fall under the Carbon Reduction Commitment – this typically equates to those that spend less than £500,000 a year on electricity.
The Carbon Trust has improved access for small and medium businesses with interest-free and unsecured loans intended to help more businesses to cut their energy costs and their carbon footprints. The size of the loan offered and its repayment period will be based on your projected CO2 savings, which will be assessed by the Carbon Trust. Loans can be repaid over a period of up to four years.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme
The funding available has been broken down into two phases. Phase One funding which included funding for businesses is closed to applicants. Not-for profit businesses can apply for funding up through Phase Two. Organisations can apply for 50% of the cost for installing approved micro-generation technologies.
In April 2009 the Low Carbon Buildings Programme was awarded a further £45 million. From 1 July 2009 the extended programme will continue to provide grant funding to charitable organisations, community groups and the public sector.
- The upper limit for heat technologies has been raised to 300kW.
- Organisations may apply for up to 50% of the cost of installing approved technologies up to a maximum of £200,000 (though maximum grant levels may depend on the nature of the organisation).
- There will be a £9 million pot for solar PV.
- All other technologies will benefit from the remaining £21 million.
Big Lottery Fund in Scotland has two programmes which are currently open. These are ‘Awards for All’ and ‘Investing in Ideas’, both can fund private, public and not for profit groups from £500 up to £10,000.
WREN receives the majority of its funding from the landfill tax levied by the Waste Recycling Group. The funding is generally available to a project with a community based outlook where either the outcome would assist with biodiversity, restore a heritage building or area or increase community wellbeing. WREN has four schemes that can provide different levels of funding;
- Small Grant Scheme - Funding applications between £2,000 and £15,000 will be considered with the total project cost under £50,000.
- Main Grant Scheme - The WREN Main Grant Scheme offers funding of between £15,001 and £50,000 to projects which fall within WREN policy and the Landfill Communities Fund.
- Biodiversity Action Fund - The WREN Biodiversity Action Fund provides funding of between £75,000 and £250,000 to deliver biodiversity improvement projects under Object DA.
- Gift Aid
The E.ON SOURCE Fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to community groups and not-for-profit organisations who wish to consider and implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings – from energy efficiency through to micro-generation.
The closing date for applications in 2009 is October 16th 2009. There is currently no information on the future of this funding source.
Support for Aberdeenshire Business (SAB)
Support for Aberdeenshire Business (SAB) aims to strengthen Aberdeenshire’s economy by encouraging the expansion of local businesses in the target activities. One of the target activities is to assist businesses investing in the installation of environmentally sustainable processes and renewable energy projects. Both loans and grants are available.
The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy
An annual competition to identify and reward organisations which have carried out schemes demonstrating sustainable energy in action at a local level. Winners include schemes covering solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biogas, fuel-efficient stoves and energy efficiency. Although not a source of funding to develop a project, the cash prize can help companies to take projects forward and publicise their work.
Funding for Alternative Refuelling Stations
Grants are now available encouraging organisations to install refuelling or recharging stations for alternative fuels (i.e. non diesel and non petrol). Funding is available for hydrogen, electric, E85 bioethanol and natural gas/biogas stations and other non traditional fuels. This programme is currently under review those wishing to participate should lodge their interest through sending an e-mail to igp@cenex.co.uk.
The Scottish Government introduced the Small Business Bonus Scheme, (which replaced the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme.) This scheme will reduce the business rates bills of many small businesses by as much as 100%. Businesses need to apply in order to benefit from it.
Sustainable Travel Grant Scheme (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available for private, not-for-profit, public sectors and commercial or public service attracting visitor or customer cars are eligible to apply. Grants are available for projects that encourage sustainable transport for example a secure bike rack and staff shower rooms.
Sustainable Travel Grant (Strathclyde)
Grants of between £300 and £3000 up to 50% of the cost is available for not-for-profit organisations in the Strathclyde area who are looking to fund measures which help develop and implement their travel plan.
Grants are provided for the installation of biomass heating systems in business premises and district heating demonstrators. The Scheme will prioritise support for small-medium sized enterprises. Funding is only applicable to projects which are using biomass for heat-only applications. The Scottish Government would particularly welcome applications for district heating demonstrators from private developers.
A third round of the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme was announced by Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in the Scottish Parliament on the 25th November 2009.
The closing date for the third round is 12th February 2010.
If you feel that you have a suitable site for a Micro-Hydro Scheme then Flow Hydro is providing free installation, associated planning costs and maintenance of turbines for any business in mainland Scotland and the islands of Mull, Skye & Arran. The company at the stie benefits from free electricity and the installation company benefits from the return on their hardware investment by selling surplus electricity to the grid. To determine whether your site is eligible a feasibility survey will beed to be undertaken at a cost of £345 (inc. VAT). For more information on the procedure click here.
GRANT SEARCH TOOL
A searchable tool which aims to provide a comprehensive list of funding schemes which have a green outlook. Provided by Green Grant Management.
Shell Springboard is a programme that provides a financial boost to innovative, low carbon business ideas from across the UK. The award is for small to medium sized enterprises who have a commercially viable product or service that will reduce greenhouse gasses. The new round of applications is now open and all applications must be in by midnight on the Friday 6th November 2009.
Various funding opportunities are available, including:
The Scottish Co-investment fund. The Scottish Co-investment Fund (SCF) is a £72 million equity investment fund set up by Scottish Enterprise, and partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to invest £100,000 to £1 million in business deals of up to £2 million. Click Here.
Scottish Venture Fund. The Scottish Venture Fund (SVF) has been set up by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with the Scottish Government to invest £500,000 to £2 million in company finance deals of between £2 million and £10 million. Click Here.
Scottish Seed Fund. The Scottish Seed Fund (SSF) provides equity and, in some cases, loan investments from £20,000 to £100,000 to early-stage businesses that meet the criteria and are keen to grow. Click Here.
Various funding opportunities are available to encourage Innovation and Research & Development including:
SMART:Scotland: Financial assistance to SMEs to help support projects, which represent a significant technological advance for the UK sector or industry concerned. Click here.
SEEKIT: Designed to support projects that will promote co-operation in R&D and knowledge transfer between small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the Scottish public sector science base. Click here.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA): The main investment grant scheme for businesses in designated areas of Scotland (the 'assisted' areas). Business of all sizes can apply, whether they are Scottish-owned or owned or headquartered outside Scotland. If your business is located within an assisted area, you could qualify for funding towards an investment project which will create or safeguard jobs in the business. Click here.
Collaborative R&D Business Support Product
The New and Renewable Energy R&D Programme is now being delivered through the Collaborative R&D Business Support Product. Open competitions for funding under this product happen twice a year. The Technology Strategy Board invest in projects involving business and researchers working together to deliver successful new technology-based products and services.
Sigma Sustainable Energies Fund II
Sigma Sustainable Energy Fund II is currently open and accepting applicants. Sigma's primary focus for new investments is currently on companies developing technologies relating to clean energy and energy efficiency.
FP7 is the short name for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This is the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007-2013. Those interested should register with the programme.
Carbon Trust’s Applied Research Programme
This programme supports the development and commercialisation of technology with the potential to reduce UK CO2 emissions. When a call-for-proposals is open you can apply on-line for a grant of up to £250K towards the cost of your project. A minimum 40% match funding is required. The Carbon Trust operates a two stage application process, with a competitive element at both stages. The next call for applications is;
• Autumn 2009: 26th October - 24th December
The Carbon Trust is a co-investor of choice in the low carbon technology field. If you have a technology that has commercial potential, can demonstrate its feasibility and have potential co-investors in place then you may be of interest to the Carbon Trust. Typically, they invest between £250k-£3m per deal as a minority stakeholder alongside private sector investors on the same terms.
Scottish Power Green Energy Trust
The trust supports the development of new renewable energy sources in the UK. The Trust offers grants to a wide range of projects that will increase our use and knowledge of renewable energy. The Trust meets three times a year to consider applications usually during the first week of April, September and December. Provided you submit your application seven weeks prior to the Trustees meeting, it will be screened for eligibility and completeness. The Trust will grant up to half the cost of the chosen renewable technology. There is a maximum award of £25,000 but most projects receive around £10,000.
Intelligent Energy - Europe is a programme supporting activities that foster the market up-take of sustainable energy technologies (renewables, energy efficiency, clean transports), through awareness raising, networking, benchmarking approaches, development of new tools and methodologies. The programme does not fund the investment itself, but it can support activities which aim to promote investments into renewable energy technologies. Please also be aware that IEE is a non-technological programme, which means that it does neither support genuine research activities nor investments in hardware. The next call for proposals will be published late in 2009.
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Carbon Abatement Technologies Demonstration Programme
The overall aim of the scheme is to reduce barriers to the introduction of cost-effective, low carbon fuel cell, hydrogen and carbon abatement technologies by demonstrating these technologies in real applications. There are a range of competitions currently open to applicants.
EST Low Carbon Research and Development Grant
The aim of this scheme is to support - through grant funding - the development of new low carbon vehicle technologies. Grants are available to all sizes of businesses - from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to large firms - operating in the motor vehicle sector. Applications are currently closed.
Pilkington Energy Efficiency Trust
PEET was established to fund research, testing or evaluation projects which will improve the knowledge or practice of energy efficiency in buildings. PEET will consider funding, or co-funding, projects whose successful completion is likely to result in the more efficient use of energy in new or existing buildings. There should also be a strategy for disseminating the results or otherwise promoting their uptake, but funding will not be awarded to purely educational or promotional campaigns. Applications are considered from all sectors. For further information contact Phil Brown.
Emerging Energy Technologies - Low Carbon Energy Technologies (Technology Programme)
Funding is available for collaborative research and development involving UK companies and the science, engineering and technology base, within Low Carbon Energy Technologies. The competition is designed to generate innovative proposals in which the business and research communities collaborate on research and technology projects to deliver successful new products and services.
Environmental Investment Network
The Network has been set up to allow Members wishing to raise funds to develop/commercialise technologies and services that benefit the environment to submit proposals for funding via a secure website. Proposals placed on the Network website may then be viewed by Members who sign up as Investor Members. The Network further facilitates investments by arranging for members to present their funding proposals to Investor Members at regularly held investment meetings and providing, prior to the invest meetings, presentation training and support.
Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP)
Grant funding is awarded through open competitions for specific purposes such as increasing the capacity of a particular market or supporting new markets for recyclate. eQuip Residual Value Guarantee offers support in leasing equipment for recycling. By providing a guarantee on the future value of equipment, eQuip can reduce the costs of acquiring assets for your business and enable you to gain other benefits of lease finance.
Research and Development Tax Credits
Research and development (R&D) tax credits are a company tax relief which can either reduce a company’s tax bill or, for some small or medium sized companies, provide a cash sum. The aim of the tax credits is to encourage greater R&D spending in order to promote investment in innovation.
Scottish Environmental Technology Network
SETN has a small project fund to support ‘pump priming’ R&D projects with awards of <£5k in partnership with Local Enterprise Companies and other interested parties (e.g. SEPA, Small Business Gateway).
The Green Fund awards grants to organisations who apply for funds to help cover the cost of renewable energy technology. If you represent a community, non-profit, charitable or an educational organisation you may be eligible for funding.
GRANT SEARCH TOOL
A searchable tool which aims to provide a comprehensive list of funding schemes which have a green outlook is provided by Green Grant Management.