FREE low carbon innovation and renewable energy generation support and grants are available!

If your business is looking to implement a large-scale renewable energy project or has the potential for high-tech green growth, support may be available to help your business grow. Through the ERDF-funded Low Carbon Opportunities Programme, small and medium sized businesses in Worcestershire may be eligible for feasibility support and grants to install renewable energy systems or launch low-carbon projects.

From assessing your business for renewables suitability to helping you to commercialise your low-carbon innovations and access funding, this programme is the gateway to your lower-carbon future. From this fully-funded business support, your business can benefit from a renewable energy assessment to determine grant feasibility for renewable installation or cleantech innovation projects.

Grants

Grants are available for up to 40% of the costs of eligible projects.  Grants of up to £50,000 for renewable energy projects and up to £30,000 for low carbon innovation projects.
Renewable energy projects cannot be double funded so either a project grant of up to 40% can be applied for, or FITs/RHI can be sought. The assessment will help SMEs establish their best option. The programme is looking to fund larger-scale renewable energy projects.
Through the programme, SMEs in Worcestershire will be enabled and encouraged to adopt renewable energy, and to innovate and grow in, or diversify into, the low carbon sector.

The programme also looks to establish collaborative links between SMEs and other businesses, and SMEs and research institutions. In addition to the free business support and grants for projects, the Low Carbon Opportunities Programme will include networking and events.

For the Renewable Energy Generation funding, you will be able to apply for the installation of renewable energy technologies that will both save carbon emissions and reduce your energy usage and costs.

The following types of projects can be funded:

• Solar photovoltaic systems (solar PV)
• Biomass boilers
• Ground or air source heat pumps
• Solar thermal systems
• Geothermal heat collectors
• Heat networks
• Gas-fired combined heat and power systems (CHP)
• Battery storage for renewable energy systems
• Distribution systems for renewable energy technologies

All projects are subject to evaluation and approval will depend, amongst other things, on the cost of the project and the carbon savings which will be achieved.

For the Low Carbon Innovation funding in Worcestershire and Shropshire you will be able to apply for both revenue and/or capital funding to further develop your innovative low carbon product or service and take it to the next stage.

The following types of projects can be funded:

• Low carbon product, process or service development
• Commercialisation or implementation costs
• Market research and assessment
• IPR protection
• Accreditations
• Prototyping, demonstration or testing of new products
• Manufacturing scale-up or market rollout

There may be many other projects which can be funded; this is not an exclusive list. The business assistance you receive before you apply for a project grant will help you work out what is best for your business at this time. The business assistance may also help you obtain quotes for the work.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, your business must:

• Be situated in and trading from Worcestershire, or Shropshire (certain low carbon innovation projects only).
• Employ fewer than 250 employees.
• Have a turnover of less than the equivalent of 50 million Euros per annum or a balance sheet of less than 43 million Euros.
• A minimum energy spend applies

Please note some industries such as primary agriculture are not eligible. Other activities excluded are social welfare, education and some retail.

How To Apply

To find out more about the Low Carbon Opportunities Programme, please contact the Open for Business programme team that is ready to help get you started. Call 01905 677 888 or E-mail info@business-central.co.uk or sustainability@worcestershire.gov.uk.