Marches renewable energy grant scheme a success

The Marches Renewable Energy Grant Scheme, that has just come to an end, more than achieved its targets by supporting the installation of over 2.3 megawatts of new renewable energy generation capacity and an annual decrease of 563 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That’s enough additional green energy to power almost 1,500 homes.

The Marches Renewable Energy Grant Scheme, which ran from June 2019, helped over 50 businesses, community organisations, education institutions and small local councils across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin with a 50 per cent grant towards installing renewable energy technologies at their premises. Grants totalling almost £950,000 were awarded. The scheme was part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Grants were made for a range of renewable technologies. Whilst the vast majority of projects installed were for solar panels, air-source heat pumps and battery storage were also installed. A grant was even delivered for a river source heat pump.

The range of organisations that have benefitted include:

• Shrewsbury Colleges Group;
• Friends of Castle Green community interest company in Hereford;
• Mayglothling Waste Ltd in Kington;
• Ross-on-Wye Town Council;
• Oswestry Town Council;
• Great Dawley Town Council in Telford and Wrekin;
• Frank H Dale Ltd in Leominster;
• Golden Bear Products Ltd in Telford;
• Image on Food in Market Drayton;
• Condover Village Hall near Shrewsbury;
• Billcar Precision Engineering Ltd in Shrewsbury.

An interactive map and case studies of grant beneficiaries can be found on Herefordshire Council’s web site at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/MarRE

The scheme was managed by Herefordshire Council in partnership with Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

Adrian Marshall, who managed the scheme, said “This grant scheme offered a real opportunity for businesses and organisations across the region to switch to sustainable and renewable energy sources. What we didn’t envisage were the other benefits including an opportunity to show off their green credentials and commitment to net zero”.

Councillor Ellie Chowns, Herefordshire Council Cabinet member for Environment and Economy said “I am delighted that so many companies and organisations were able to benefit from the Marches Renewable Energy scheme which forms part of the council’s commitment to combatting climate change and working towards a zero carbon economy.”

Mandy Thorn MBE, chair of the Marches LEP, said the scheme helped the Marches in its ambition to increase the use of renewable and green energy sources.

“The LEP is working with all its partners across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to ensure the region is net zero by 2030 and this scheme has helped play an important role in that. It offered real financial help to businesses to plan for the future by making their energy supply as sustainable and efficient as possible.”  

Whilst the scheme has now come to an end the partners are hoping to apply for more funding to run a similar scheme again in the future as they work towards net zero in the region.

For more information about the project, visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/MarRE