Funding Opportunities
More information on each of these sources of funding is available in our downloadable 'Financial Support' factsheet.
Enhanced capital allowances
Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) entitle companies to tax relief when they invest in certain qualifying energy saving technologies. ECAs are claimed in the same way as other capital allowances on the Corporation Tax return.
Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Loans
These interest free loans are available for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) to upgrade or replace equipment with energy efficient alternatives. Loans range from £5,000 - £100,000 and repayments are based on the annual savings the new equipment should yield.
Carbon Trust Applied Research Grant
The Carbon Trust's Applied Research Programme is open to UK businesses and research institutions and aims to support the development and commercialisation of technology with the potential to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions. Any UK business can apply; the next call for applications opens on 16th October 2006.
Carbon Trust Clean Energy Fund
In July 2006 the Carbon Trust announced its intention to establish a new venture capital fund, investing in SMEs in the low carbon and clean energy technology sectors.
The new fund will be launched in the autum and will invest in sectors which will capture value through the transition to a low carbon economy, including renewables, solar generation, fuel cells, bio fuels and synthetic fuels.
The Department for Trade and Industry's Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Grants up to £100,000 or 40-50% of total costs are available for businesses installing one of the following renewable energy installations.
- Solar photovoltaics
- Wind turbines
- Small hydro
- Solar thermal hot water
- Ground source heat pumps
- Biomass
Grants for Research and Development (GRAND)
Grants for Research and Development aim to help start-ups and SMEs to carry out research and development work on technologically innovative products and processes. The grants are delivered by the English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
Energy Technologies - South East Regional Development Agency (SEEDA)
SEEDA is offering £300,000 - £500,000 of support to projects in the following areas:
- Micro-generation for business use, including combined heat and power (CHP), solar and wind;
- Energy saving and efficiency, including intelligent energy use and more energy efficient buildings;
- Biomass and waste as fuels.
The majority of business involvement must be within the SEEDA region.
Environmental Industries Federation (EIF) Environmental Micro Loan FundThis fund was set up to help SMEs in the North-east environment sector. Unsecured loans of up to £15,000 are offered to new, young, start-up businesses and those SMEs with potential to grow, who may be having difficulty borrowing money in the more conventional money markets.
