Funding Support for Renewable Energy Projects in Rural Areas

Funding Support for Renewable Energy Projects in Rural Areas across the North West of England

What is the Rural Carbon Challenge Fund? Funded through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and managed by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), the Rural Carbon Challenge Fund is a £4 Million initiative to support the delivery of renewable energy projects in rural areas across the North West of England.

The programme will demonstrate what can be achieved at a community level by creating exemplar supply chain partnerships. On the supply side, it will support micro-enterprises to set up or expand a renewable energy business and to gain new skills through training. On the demand side it will support businesses, community groups, social enterprises and charities with the capital cost of producing energy in community and with technical support, feasibility studies, training and establishment costs. Priority will be given to projects that focus on the use of wind, hydro and wood fuel although all energy generating technologies will be considered accounting for local conditions.
What types of projects can be funded?

Capital for renewable energy systems for local communities (especially wind, hydro and wood-fuel). This includes capacity building, technical support and establishment costs set up of a renewable energy generating business.
Training and information for those commissioning, installing. operating and servicing micro-renewable installations. This includes fitters, plumbers and heating engineers. Training and information for businesses, community groups, social enterprises and charities on developing and delivering projects and feasibility studies.

All projects should offer an element of innovation e.g. the first time demonstration of the technology in a rural setting, working with a community group or for some other reason all projects should showcase best practice with a potential for replication.

Who can apply for funding?

Social enterprises, formally constituted community groups, charities, groups of businesses and micro enterprises. Individual businesses with more than 10 staff can only apply if part of a wider community project.

What do I need to consider when applying? To be considered for support your project must meet all of the following requirements:

Projects deliverables and outputs must take place in the North West region.
Projects should demonstrate best practice with a level of innovation considered.
Projects must be delivered in and for the benefit of rural communities within the North West.
Projects should offer good value for money in terms of CO2 savings/energy generation, jobs created, benefits to the rural economy and agricultural and forestry sectors, potential for replication and ability to meet the required operational timelines.
Projects must act as a regional demonstrator to enable the dissemination of best practice.
Be installed and fully operational by 31st March 2013.
How much funding can be awarded to an individual project?
The level of funding awarded to an individual project will depend on the legal status of the applicant and the type of activity proposed. Funding levels will range from 70 – 100% of total eligible project costs. Minimum grant award will be £200K Maximum grant award will be £500k.

What are eligible costs? Successful applicants will receive an offer for a grant. Only costs incurred after the applicant has accepted the grant are eligible. Costs can include: directly employed staff, general overheads (e.g. rent, rates etc), capital for renewable energy systems, materials, technical support and training.

What is the timetable*? The Rural Carbon Challenge Fund is a 2 stage competition.

The first stage is the completion of an Expression of Interest Form with a submission deadline of the 1st June 2010 (17.00 pm).
Applications will then be shortlisted with a selection of applicants invited to submit a full application by the 31st August 2010.
Applicants will be notified if they have been successful in securing funding for their projects in September 2010.

Competition Opens 22nd March 2010
Optional Briefing events (3 planned in total) 14th and 19th April 2010
Expression of Interest Deadline 1st June 2010 (17.00 pm)
Feedback on Expressions of Interest provided by 30th June 2010
Full Stage opens (for invited applications) 1st July 2010
Deadline for receipt of full applications 31st August 2010
Decision to applicants 17th September 2010
Final contracts must be signed 31st December 2010
Deadline for projects to commence 31st December 2010
Projects must be installed and fully operational by 31st March 2013

Can I get help in applying and forming alliances? On behalf of the NWDA, the programme will be delivered in partnership by Envirolink NW and the Energy Savings Trust. Both parties will be available to support potential applicants throughout the application process. This includes the qualification of project ideas, the development of alliances between micro-enterprises, social-enterprises and community groups to submit joint expressions of interest as well as application guidance. Support will also be available in post award activity to help successful applicants develop and deliver the outputs of their projects.

If you are a Formally Constituted Community Group you can receive help and support in writing your EOI and full application from the Energy Saving Trust, please contact
Catherine Monaghan on 0161 209 3912 or catherine.monaghan@est.org.uk
If you are a Social Enterprise, Charity, Micro-enterprise, Individual Business or applying as a Group of Businesses, you can receive help and support in writing your EOI and full application from Envirolink Northwest, please contact
Simon Gutteridge on 01925 813200 or RCCF@envirolinknorthwest.co.uk
Three optional briefing events are being held across the Northwest: Wednesday 14 April, 9.30 – 12.30, Warrington Wolves RFC, Warrington. Wednesday 14 April, 17.00 – 20.00, Gujarat Centre, Preston. Monday 19 April, 13.30-16.30, Rheged Centre, Penrith.

---