£10 million boost for SME energy innovation
British entrepreneurs are set to benefit from a share of £10million to help bring new and innovative energy efficient products to market, Minister of Energy and Climate Change Greg Barker announced today [Jan. 28 2013]. Small and medium size enterprises (SME) within the energy efficiency, building technologies, power generation and energy storage sectors are invited to bid for funding of up to £two million under the Government’s Energy Entrepreneurs Fund.
Support will be given to state of the art technologies that could bring down the cost of consumer bills and reduce carbon emissions, such as ground source heat pumps, and energy from waste technologies.
In addition to funding, the winning companies will also receive advice from commercial experts on how to attract investment to bring their products to the market.
Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker said: “This investment will give SMEs a vital boost to drive forward the development of a range of innovative low carbon designs, helping cut costs and bringing new technologies to market in this sector. Innovation is vital for the move towards a low carbon economy and an essential part of our long term economic plan. I look forward to seeing our great entrepreneurs rising to the challenge.”
Applications are assessed by engineering and technical experts across government and industry, as well as a commercial panel of low carbon investment professionals. Bids are judged against a range of criteria including the ability to cut the cost of existing technologies, future carbon savings and commercial viability.
This is the third phase of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund. In the first phase, which was launched in September 2012, 31 companies were awarded grants of a total value of £16 million. The second phase, launched in June 2013, resulted in 20 companies receiving grant offers totalling £9 million.
The Energy Entrepreneurs Fund:
The Energy Entrepreneurs Fund is designed to spur on innovation in the low carbon sector, helping to support jobs and create export opportunities as well as help the UK meet its carbon targets.
The Fund – totalling £35 million and launched in April 2012 - aims to support energy efficiency technologies such as building control systems, advanced lighting systems and space heating and cooling technologies, alongside power generation and energy storage technologies including fuel cells, biomass boilers and heat pumps. Winning designs range from smart energy demand controls and innovative waste management solutions, to innovative ideas for installing insulation.
