The Carbon Reduction Fund is 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 Pembrokeshire Business Carbon Reduction Fund is available only to new or existing businesses within the eligible sectors that are located within Pembrokeshire.
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
The following sectors however are ineligible for support: – primary agriculture production, forestry, fishing, and statutory services, e.g., education and primary healthcare.
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.
You must either:
- Own the freehold, or
- Hold a lease with a seven-year minimum period remaining after the final grant payment date. You will need to secure your landlord's written consent for the proposed works
The business premises must be registered on Pembrokeshire County Council’s Non Domestic Rates register, in order to apply.
You cannot apply for funding to support work that you have already started. We encourage you to contact us at an early stage to discuss any proposals.
All expenditure associated to the grant must be completed and claimed by 30th November 2024. Monitoring of the business and funding scheme outputs will take place and evidence will be required by this time. Failure to achieve the committed outputs could result in the claw back of grant funds.
Upon giving reasonable notice, Pembrokeshire County Council reserves the right to monitor and maintain evidence at 1, 3 and 5 years from the receipt of a grant application. Renewable energy generation meter readings are to be taken on an annual basis by the applicant and provided as part of this monitoring process.
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.
*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 Pembrokeshire County Council's website here: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-funding/pembrokeshire-carbon-reduction-grant#SIX