Funding for low carbon and sustainability projects
Are you looking for funding to help support a project that focuses on climate or environmental sustainability?
Below is a list of current funding opportunities for organisations and community organisations seeking financial support for environmental and sustainability projects. This page is updated regularly as new funding sources are launched.
The BEIS Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA)
The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) IEEA is supported through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio and funds industrial scale demonstrations of novel technologies with the potential to reduce energy consumption, maximise resource efficiency and cut carbon emissions. The third phase of the IEEA is now open for idea submissions. Do you have an energy or resource efficiency technology concept that is ready to be demonstrated in industry? Then BEIS can help you!
Innovate UK Edge
Innovate UK EDGE brings a range of services to help ambitious, innovative SMEs scale and grow. They help businesses:
Clean Growth Fund
The government has launched a new effort to support green start-up companies across the UK, joint-funding a £40 million venture capital fund to supercharge the development of next-generation clean, low-carbon technologies.
Tree Production Innovation Fund
The Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) has been designed to encourage the development and adoption of new technologies and ways of working that will enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of tree planting stock available for planting in England. The TPIF is looking to support projects with outputs that will better equip nurseries to supply the trees required for new woodlands and urban planting projects. Applicants will be invited to apply for between £20K and £200K in grant funding to support innovative projects that address one or more of the following challenges identified as barriers to tree nursery production.
Niche Vehicle Feasibility Studies Competition
Sponsored by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), the Niche Vehicle Feasibility Studies Competition will provide SMEs and micro companies active in the zero emission niche vehicle technology sector with grant funding of up to £35,000 to undertake desktop research activities aimed at catalysing innovative, zero emission vehicle technologies. Specifically, this year’s Feasibility Studies Competition is looking to fund innovative projects which support the increased uptake of zero emission on-road UK niche vehicles, including innovative charging.
Plug-In Coventry
Driving an electric vehicle into Coventry City centre shouldn’t be a headache – that’s why late last year we unveiled a new ‘park-and-charge’ facility at Salt Lane Car park. As part of the ‘Plug In Coventry’ network, the newly installed fast chargers offer everyday EV drivers a secure and reliable place to charge, whether they’re commuting to work, school or simply looking to discover the city centre. Powered by EO Charging, this EV charging destination forms just a small part of the council’s plans to reshape the city’s transport infrastructure and support the shift to electric vehicles. We are actively encouraging Coventry’s businesses to install charging facilities on their premises to not only support the widespread adoption of EVs but also attract customers and generate revenue through this funding scheme.
Carbon13
Carbon13 works with founders to build startups that can reduce carbon emissions by millions of tonnes. Each of the 50 founders on the eight-month programme is focused on tackling the biggest challenges of Net Zero and achieving a meaningful impact on emissions. Overall, the initiative will select and support a thousand entrepreneurs over 5 years who will build scalable ventures with the potential to reduce carbon emissions by over 400 million tonnes. The latest cohort has opened for applications.
Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge
This challenge will boost the development of low-carbon technologies to increase the competitiveness of key industrial regions and support the UK’s drive for Clean Growth. The Industrial Decarbonisation programme is funded by £170 million from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund which is expected to be matched by funding of up to £261 million from industry. UK businesses can express an interest in applying for a share of up to £30 million to collaborate on quantum technology development projects.
Cadent Foundation Grants
Cadent will work with UK charities or groups with charitable purposes to fund projects, up to £100,000 that have a positive impact on people, the environment and communities. The scheme appears to be available indefinitely and has a fairly open criteria as to what is eligible.
Funding for low carbon industry
Details of funding for low carbon industry including carbon capture, usage and storage programmes. Innovate UK, the Research Councils and BEIS expect to invest around £162 million in industrial research and innovation, including carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS). As part of this commitment, within the Energy Innovation Programme, BEIS expects to invest around £100 million in low carbon industrial innovation to reduce the risks and costs of accelerating the roll-out of low carbon technologies which will enable UK industry to remain competitive.
Severn Trent Community Fund
Severn Trent is going to be giving away £10million over the next five years to support local projects, charities and community groups in the Severn Trent region. This will be in the areas of:
- People: Projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills
- Places: Projects that help to create better places to live in and use
- Environment: Projects that will help look after the natural environment, give people greater access to that environment or help look after water
Veolia Environmental Trust
The Veolia Environmental Trust was established in 1997 under the Landfill Communities Fund. They support a wide range of community and environmental projects throughout England. The money they use for grants is made available through the Fund. Veolia has supported this initiative by contributing over £82 million since they were established, which to date has been used to award over 2,354 grants to projects.
Groundwork Grant Schemes
Groundwork's specialist staff have extensive knowledge and experience managing grant schemes from the small funds to multi-million-pound programmes. They can help your organisation design high impact grant schemes and ensure that your funding reaches the right people to create lasting change that benefits communities.
Community Energy Hub
This website provides information about grant funding for community energy projects. The information on the Community Energy Hub website provides links to the main support schemes for community energy, followed by links to online funding guides and general information on grant funds.
Rural Community Energy Fund
A funding scheme to support rural communities across England wanting to set up renewable energy projects in their area.
The Earthshot Prize
Prizes will reward progress across all sectors of industry and society, not just technology. The prizes could be awarded to a wide range of individuals, teams or collaborations – scientists, activists, economists, leaders, governments, banks, businesses, cities, and countries – anyone who is making a substantial development or outstanding contribution to solving our environmental challenges.
Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) Wave 6
The Advanced Propulsion Centre's TDAP is here to help accelerate early-stage transport technology concepts to market. Through TDAP, APC provides £135,000 of combined grant funding, technical support and business mentoring to help start-ups, spin-outs and SME’s bring their innovations to life. There is a strong low carbon element to most projects. The latest wave is now open for applications.
Heat Pump Ready Programme
Heat Pump Ready will support the development of innovative solutions across the heat pump sector and is split into three streams:
- Stream 1: solutions for high-density heat pump deployment. Up to £30 million of Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) funding from spring 2022
- Stream 2: developing tools and technology. Up to £25 million of grant funding for projects to overcome barriers to heat pump deployment, beginning spring 2022
- Stream 3: trial support and learning. Up to £5 million contract from spring 2022
KTN's Innovation Exchange
KTN's Innovation Exchange is a cross sector program supporting innovation transfer by matching industry challenges to innovative companies from other sectors.
KTN iX latest opportunities
KTN-iX provides you with the opportunity to become directly linked to, or collaborate with, key industry stakeholders who are actively seeking the most innovative solutions to help them achieve their full potential. Lots of new challenges have been posted, and several of them are looking for low carbon solutions. Check out the latest batch of opportunities.