In addition to the recently launched woodfuel woodland improvement grant (WF WIG) and Farming and Forestry Investment Scheme (FFIS) two more funding sources have been announced.
The Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) and Rural Community Energy Fund are aimed specifically at community energy projects and are potentially very useful for getting projects implemented.
Whilst the LEAF project has demanding timescales it may be possible for some groups to take advantage, particularly if the scope of the project is tightly defined and there are plenty of people willing to get involved.
Details of the Rural Community Energy Fund are still emerging and an announcement is expected in January.
£10 MILLION LOCAL ENERGY ASSESSMENT FUND (“LEAF”) UP FOR GRABS
The Department of Energy and Climate Change, has announced a new £10 million fund to help local communities in England and Wales develop energy projects. The fund will run as a “competition”, with the chance for around 200 community organisations to receive up to £50,000 each to understand local energy efficiency, renewable energy generation issues and to get things started in local communities.
The Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) will be managed by a number of community networks and administered by the Energy Saving Trust. This is a short-term scheme where work will need to be completed by end of March 2012.
The deadline for applications is in two weeks so you must act fast! The first round closes at noon on the 22nd December.
The second round will close to applications at noon on 20 January 2012 with successful communities notified at the end January.
Additional details of how to apply can be found on the Energy Saving Trust's Green Communities website. Advisors are available on 02920 467 015.
The grant fund is intended to help communities to prepare for new opportunities in sustainable energy and climate change arising from the Green Deal, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed in Tariffs. The grants can be used to fund projects that follow the Energy Hierarchy (reduce energy use, use energy efficiently, generate renewable energy).
RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement, the creation of a £15m Rural Community Energy Fund (2012-2015) that will be developed by DECC and DEFRA. More details will emerge in January 2012.
In the meantime full details of funding for community energy projects can be found on DECC's website.
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