What was the announcement?
On 21st July 2021 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (via Salix Finance) announced that the public sector can now bid for Phase 2 of the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund to develop heat decarbonisation plans for their estates.
The fund is £15million with £3.5million of this allocated to the schools and academies sector.
What is the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme?
The PSDS was launched in October 2020 to help the public sector develop decarbonisation plans and delivery energy efficiency works. A second round of PSDS was launched in early 2021. Read our briefing on the PSDS HERE
What is the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund?
The Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund will provide grants to help all eligible public sector bodies to source specialist and expert advice to identify and develop energy efficiency and low carbon heat upgrade projects for non-domestic buildings.
How is this different to Phase 1 PSDS and LCSF and other Salix funds?
The funding is for funding advice to develop energy strategies and decarbonisation plans. It is not funding for capital works such as LED lighting and Solar PV Panels.
Unlike previous Salix funds such as SEEF the scheme is grant funding not a loan.
Previous PSDS/LCSF applicants can reapply subject to certain restrictions.
What are the timescales?
In a nutshell, very tight! Applications to the first tranche open 2pm Weds 28th July 2021
The application window for Schools and Academies is Monday 13 September 2021.
Applications are assessed on a first-come-first-served basis. From previous experience the fund will be fully allocated within 48 hours of opening.
What do I do next?
Barker will be holding two webinars for interested organisations to explain the scheme and next steps.
WEBINAR 1 – 11:00 Thursday 29th July 2021. View recording HERE
WEBINAR 2 – 11:00 Monday 6th September 2021
The capacity for the session is limited so please reserve your place today.
REGISTER HERE
Alternatively Contact us directly if you would like support with your application.
Download the Barker Energy 360 Brochure here
