£1.35 million clean energy pot for Tees Valley

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has urged community groups across the northern region to take advantage of a £1.35 million pot to help deliver clean energy projects in their area.

The Rural Community Energy Fund is being delivered by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and provides grant funding to rural community groups that want to develop their own renewable energy projects. The investment will help support groups across Tees Valley along with the North East, Yorkshire and Humber establish projects that will benefit the local community, such as anaerobic digestion, heat networks, heat pumps, hydropower, solar PV and solar thermal, and wind turbines.

The funding is available in two stages – the first stage grants are up to a maximum of £40,000 to develop feasibility studies to determine if a renewable energy project could work. No match funding is required. The second stage of funding is up to a maximum of £100,000 and is available for advanced project development for projects with a clear business case.

Houchen said: “We have huge clean energy projects in the pipeline in the Tees Valley that will help us become the clean growth capital of Europe, bringing with them jobs and inward investment. This funding will make it easier than ever for community groups to become involved in the clean energy revolution and improve their areas with small-scale but no less important projects. I’d urge anyone to check whether they are eligible and get in touch to see how they could benefit.”