FUNDING FOR DISTRICT & COMMUNAL ENERGY
We appreciate that funding is often the key to delivering a project, whether for feasibility studies, detailed design or capital costs. We’re also well aware that funding opportunities are constantly changing so we aim to keep ourselves up to date. Here are some funding routes you might find interesting with links so you can read up on them too.
COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND
The new Community Energy Fund follows the success of the former Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), but the remit has been expanded to include renewable energy investment for both rural and urban areas.
The £10 million funding pot which is due to open in early autumn 2023, is intended to empower local people to develop energy projects to benefit their local areas. Projects will need to generate clean energy, such as rural heat networks or rooftop solar, while kick-starting private investment to scale up projects.
As more detail is released we'll update this information.
HEAT NETWORK EFFICIENCY SCHEME
The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) provides funding to public, private and third sector applicants in England and Wales to support improvements to existing district heating or communal heating projects that are operating sub-optimally and resulting in poor outcomes for customers and operators.
It is a £32 million grant support programme spanning 2023-2024 (Year 1) and 2024-2025 (Year 2).
Applications for HNES Round 3 closed on 7 July 2023 but if you want to be added to the HNES mailing list and receive scheme announcements and news updates, you should email hnes@gemserv.com.
GREEN HEAT NETWORK FUND
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is a 3 year £288 million capital grant fund that will support the commercialisation and construction of new low and zero carbon heat networks (including the supply of cooling). It also supports the retrofitting and expansion of existing heat networks. It is open to organisations in the public or private sectors in England.
You can now apply for funding that could be drawn down in financial years 2023-2024 through to 2026-2027. Round 6 is open and will close to applications on 29 September 2023.