A fund to support local businesses to be sustainable, to provide assistance for them to grow and prosper whilst helping them on their net zero carbon journey.
Following a pilot roll-out of the Carmarthenshire Business Renewable Energy Fund, Carmarthenshire County Council will be delivering a second phase of the scheme to be funded by the UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund. The Fund will be a business grant scheme, which will provide capital support to businesses towards the purchase of renewable energy systems for their business premises.
The aim of the fund is to support local businesses to be sustainable during these challenging times, to provide assistance for them to grow and prosper whilst helping them on their net zero carbon journey.
The Offer
- Grants available between £1,000 (minimum) and £25,000 (maximum) towards the cost of the renewable energy system
- Each grant award will be based on no more than 50% of eligible costs
Eligibility
The Carmarthenshire Business Renewable Energy Fund is available only to new or existing businesses within the eligible sectors that are located in or planning to locate within Carmarthenshire.
Support is aimed primarily at existing businesses, including social enterprises, operating in or servicing the following growth and foundation sectors:
- Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
- Construction
- Creative Industries
- Energy and Environment
- Finance and Professional Services
- Information Technology and Telecoms
- Life Sciences
- Food & Drink
- Tourism
- Retail
- Care
Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to their potential contribution and value to the local economy and commitment to decarbonisation.
What you can use the grant for
The grant will apply to capital expenditure within an approved project and can include:
Power Systems
- Small scale, single wind turbine
- Solar photovoltaic panels (roof mounted/ ground mounted)
- Solar photovoltaic battery*
- Grid linked battery storage system (where the tariff is with a renewable energy supplier)*
- Hydro-electric
Heating Systems
- Air Source Heat Pump (Air to water and air to air)
- Ground Source Heat Pump (vertical, horizontal, diagonal & radial)
- Solar thermal panels (roof mounted/ ground mounted)
Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Systems
Where renewable fuels (e.g., Biomass) are used as the fuel source
- Installers should be MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accredited.
- Any equipment under 45 kW must have MCS certification
- For roof mounted systems, installers should be self-certified to perform structural appraisals and calculations for the roof structure. If they are not self certified to do this, then a building regulations certificate will be required.
- Other ancillary capital items that may help towards the energy efficiency of the business premises may also be included (eg. a low energy lighting system, insulation etc) and will be assessed on a case by case basis. These can only be included if they are additional to one of the systems listed above.
*Due to the fact that there is a shortage of MCS certified battery installers, batteries must be installed by a contractor registered under a relevant Competent Persons Scheme (eg. NICEIC)
For full guidance and more information on eligibility, terms and conditions and instructions on how to apply, visit Carmarthenshire County Council's website here:https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/business/funding/business-renewable-energy-fund/what-you-can-use-the-grant-for/