After pledging support to the tune of GBP30 million ($49 million approx.) to small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the ‘Business in the Community’s’ May Day summit at Manchester Airport, the NWDA has now launched the Carbon Challenge Fund – a GBP2 ($3.2 million) fund, providing grants of between GBP100,000 ($163,770) and GBP500,000 ($818,000 approx.) to new projects that can demonstrate significant carbon savings in their operations, accelerating the Northwest region’s transition to a low carbon economy.
England’s Northwest comprises Manchester, Liverpool, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria. The NWDA is inviting expressions of interest in the challenge, which is a key part of the Climate Change Action Plan, and is targeted at organizations and businesses that show an innovative and replicable approach to energy- efficiency, renewable energy, low carbon transport and construction.
In November 2006, the Agency launched the region’s Climate Change Action Plan to address the threats and opportunities that climate change presents. ‘Rising to the Challenge: A Climate Change Action Plan for England’s Northwest’ sets out the Northwest’s mission to become the leading region on climate change by 2020.
The Action Plan aims to stimulate and measure the progress of the region towards a low carbon economy, preparing it for the challenges of a changing climate and future energy demands, while protecting and enhancing our quality of life and rich environment.
The funding package expressed in the May Day summit, incorporates four initiatives worth GBP10 million ($16.3 million approx.) specifically for SMEs and community-led programs: GBP4.4 million ($7.2 million) will go to a ‘Grant for Improving your Resource Efficiency’ to help SME’s fund investments in the most environmentally-friendly capital equipment and GBP2.2 million ($3.6 million approx.) is aligned to a ‘Grant for Research and Development’, which will encourage the development and demonstration of carbon emission reducing technologies. Foundation, the community-based initiative that combats climate change, will receive GBP1.6 million ($2.6 million approx.) and GBP2 million ($3.2 million approx.) will go to the Carbon Challenge Fund, which enables innovative technologies.
To hasten the process of carbon reduction, the NWDA, in its own way is giving a fillip to companies that can collaborate with the Northwest community businesses and help bring innovative technologies to reduce carbon impact. For example, Irish-owned electrical engineering solutions company Enersol, has been roped in to set up its first international base in Northwest’s Energy Innovation Centre at EA Technology.
Enersol will also collaborate with the University of Manchester on the research and development of energy distribution networks, looking at how to connect renewable energy to the grid. This will involve working closely with the Joule Centre for Energy Research.
The company is keen to work with local businesses and employ local engineers, creating up to 30 jobs and assist in positioning the Northwest as the leading region in tackling climate change.
The deadline for expressions of interest to the Carbon Challenge Fund is August 3, 2009. These will be submitted to Envirolink Northwest, the NWDA-funded sector development organization for the energy and environmental technologies and services sector, which is managing the applications process.
