England's first renewable energy fund for rural communities opens in the Northwest
A new £4 million fund - the first of its kind in the country - has been launched to support renewable energy projects in rural areas across England's Northwest.
Grants of between £200,000 and £500,000 are available through the Rural Carbon Challenge Fund and project delivery partners, Envirolink Northwest and the Energy Saving Trust, are now looking for Expressions Of Interest (EOIs) from charities, social-enterprises, community groups and micro-enterprises before the end of May 2010.
Launched in February 2010 at the Northwest Climate Change Conference, the fund aims to improve the diversification of the rural economy and develop new partnerships at a community level. The £4m funding has come from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and is being led by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
Funding will go to projects from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. Applicants unsure whether or not their location is defined as rural can contact Envirolink Northwest directly to confirm.
Interest is encouraged from groups looking to: • install renewable energy systems - especially wind, hydro and woodfuel • set up or expand renewable energy businesses • supply training and information for commissioning, designing, installing and servicing micro-renewable installations, including fitters, plumbers and heating engineers; • offer training and information for community groups, social enterprises and charities on developing and delivering projects • conduct feasibility studies.
All projects should showcase best practice and offer an element of innovation, such as the first time demonstration of the technology in a rural setting.
Robert Hough, NWDA Chair said: "The Rural Carbon Challenge Fund represents the Agency's commitment to creating a low carbon regional economy that utilizes the energy sources most appropriate for each locality. By directly supporting social and micro-enterprises at a community level, the Agency is demonstrating its tangible approach to change, showing just why the region is a national leader in a move towards a low carbon future."
Lee Allman, Head of Research and Commercialisation at Envirolink Northwest, which is delivering the project in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for rural communities in England's Northwest to make a real difference to where they live and work. There is no other scheme like it in the country, so the successful projects will be pioneers, setting a blueprint for the rest of the UK to follow."
Envirolink Northwest and the Energy Saving Trust are members of the Northwest Climate Change Partnership, the group of organisations responsible for the delivery of the region's Climate Change Action Plan.
Successful applicants will be supported from start to finish by Envirolink Northwest and the Energy Saving Trust. The delivery partners will help applicants forge alliances to submit joint EOIs and develop and deliver the outputs of their projects.
The Rural Carbon Challenge Fund Guidance for Applicants will provide full details of the programme and the application process. It will be available to download from the Envirolink Northwest website at: http://www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk
Envirolink Northwest is the NWDA funded organisation whose aim is to develop the Northwest of England's environmental technology and services sector to provide sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
The Energy Saving Trust is the UK's leading organisation set up to try and prevent climate change by helping everybody cut carbon dioxide emissions - the main greenhouse gas causing climate change - from their homes and transport. The organisation promotes the efficient use of energy and a low carbon lifestyle.
For further information, please visit the website above, or contact Lee Allman on 01925 813200 or
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