Renewable energy business support

Funding and support

Businesses in Northern Ireland and Scotland can access a range of advice, funding and financial support to help reduce energy costs, energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy technologies.

This guide provides an overview of the funding and support available to businesses in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Northern Ireland – NI Direct / Invest NI Programmes

Energy Efficiency Capital Grant (EECG)

Note: This scheme is currently under review, with plans to re-open following assessment of the programme. 

The scheme offers:

• Grants of up to £150,000
• Support for purchasing and installing energy-efficient equipment
• Funding for onsite renewable energy generation

Eligible investments include:

• Lighting systems
• Heating and cooling equipment
• Motors and drives
• Compressed air systems
• Renewable energy generation systems

Find out more here -  Invest Northern Ireland: Energy Efficiency Capital Grant 

Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP)

NISEP provides support for businesses to invest in energy-saving technologies.

Businesses can obtain:

• Grants covering a portion of project costs
• Funding up to £30,000 under some schemes
• Support for technologies including: 
  o    Solar PV
  o    Solar thermal
  o    Heat pumps
  o    Boiler replacements
  o    Other energy-saving technologies 

Find out more here - Energy Saving Trust: Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme

Invest NI Energy and Resource Efficiency Support

Invest NI also provides guidance and advisory support to help businesses:

• Reduce energy consumption
• Improve operational efficiency
• Reduce waste
• Lower carbon emissions
• Identify eligible funding opportunities

Energy and carbon savings must generally be demonstrated to qualify for capital support.

Find out more here - Invest Northern Ireland: Reduce waste and save energy

Scotland – Business Energy Scotland

Free Energy Advice and Technical Support

Business Energy Scotland provides free, impartial advice to SMEs, charities and not-for-profit organisations in Scotland. Businesses receive support from a dedicated advisor who can identify opportunities to:

• Reduce energy consumption
• Lower energy bills
• Cut carbon emissions
• Assess renewable energy options such as solar PV, heat pumps and wind turbines
• Develop an energy efficiency action plan

Businesses receive a report that can also support funding applications. 

Find out more here -  Business Energy Scotland · Make your business greener

SME Loan and Cashback Scheme

The Scottish Government's SME Loan and Cashback Scheme offers:

• Interest-free loans of up to £100,000 for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
• Up to £130,000 total support when cashback grants are included
• Cashback grants of: 
  o    Up to £20,000 (75% of eligible costs) for energy efficiency measures
  o    Up to £10,000 (75% of eligible costs) for renewable heating systems

Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Eligible Energy Efficiency Measures

Projects that may qualify include:

• LED lighting upgrades
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements
• Building management systems
• Heat recovery systems
• Insulation (walls, roofs, floors and pipework)
• Double or secondary glazing
• Energy monitoring equipment
• Variable speed drives
• Energy-efficient motors and compressors
• Refrigeration upgrades
• Commercial kitchen equipment upgrades 

Renewable Energy and Low-Carbon Technologies

The SME Loan Scheme can support investment in:

• Air source heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps
• Water source heat pumps
• Biomass boilers
• Solar thermal systems
• Solar PV 
• Wind turbines
• Micro-hydro systems
• Anaerobic digestion systems

Some technologies qualify for cashback grants, while others qualify for interest-free loans only. 

Find out more here - SME Loan Scheme · Business Energy Scotland