Traditional compressed air filters are only 60-80% efficient, even when they are operating at optimum performance levels, and can be overwhelmed with contaminants quickly as their disposable internal elements become less effective over time.

Expel has been engineered using Computational Fluid Dynamics and does not require any replacement filter elements, ensuring that its performance will not fall below 99.999%. It does not need servicing and is virtually maintenance free. And although cleaning is not necessary, the Expel is fully cleanable and reusable if required.

Installing Expel filters can reduce downtime as pneumatic equipment will not fail because of moisture and solid particulates in the compressed air lines. Expel can also increase the efficiency of sites by providing superior equipment protection. In addition, it can reduce the cost of replacement equipment as it facilitates clean and liquid free compressed air that extends the life of pneumatic equipment. It also reduces energy costs by providing a consistently low pressure drop.

An additional benefit of the product is that in some instances it can be used to replace both air dryers and refrigerant dryers. This offers multiple cost-saving benefits as the product does not require electricity or any other consumables to operate and is guaranteed to remove all liquid water at the point of use. The units can also be used alongside refrigerant dryers and desiccant dryers acting as a failsafe and ensuring critical pneumatic equipment is always protected.

The range of Expel units conform to ISO 12 500 standards and operate with flow rates up to 100cfm, port sizes from ¼” to 2” and operating pressures from 1 to 15bar. The ground-breaking performance of Expel is reinforced by a 10-year guarantee offered on every unit.

For full technical details visit: https://ow.ly/6noo50RvQrk

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Britain’s 29,000 schools need up to £5.4 billion invested in lighting upgrades and on-roof solar power generation, if they are to achieve the government’s Net Zero targets by mid-century, new research claims.

The figure – equivalent to 5% of all government spending on education last year – comes in a report from eEnergy, a commercial provider of energy efficiency services.  Its study accuses ministers of doing too little to help the nation’s primary & secondary maintained sectors meet the Net Zero goals overseen by energy ministry D-ESNZ.

“A catastrophic combination of increased impact caused by our current energy consumption, and rising operational costs for schools, has resulted in Net Zero energy infrastructure in schools being pushed down the agenda”, it charges.

The government budgeted to spend £107 billion last year on all public education, including universities, schools and colleges.  The Energyst thus calculates that eEnergy’s £ 5.4 Billion estimate equates to 5% of all public spending on education.

Around 70% of UK schools are still using outdated lighting, eEnergy’s study finds.   Easily switching out of fluorescent tubes & old-style thermal bulbs, then switching in LED devices, can axe bills for lighting alone by over 90%.

LEDs alone, eEnergy calculates, can save Britain’s schools as much as £2.3 Billion over ten years.

Ministers lag, still emitting more heat than light

Increasing numbers of schools now make their own energy on-site, whether via PV panels making clean electricity on roofs, or devices such as heat pumps. But eEnergy calculates asmuch as 30% of all energy generated on site is wasted, since that share is made during school holidays or at weekends.

The solution is on-site storage of clean power, the study implies, in forms such as batteries, now dropping in price.   

eEnergy says its own projects in practical energy efficiency look set to yield £102.3 million net savings for clients over a ten-year period.

It has worked with 840 schools to date, installing LEDs and solar panels, advising on efficiency measures and behaviour change by users.

In one year alone, the service provider says it has helped UK schools save £13 million, the cost of 5.4 million free school meals.

Replacing hot-running, wasteful bulbs with cooler, cheaper-to-run LEDs is also a revenue earner for many of England’s 300-or so volunteer-led clean energy co-operatives.   Local groups of volunteers affiliated to lobbyists Community Energy England or its Welsh & Scots equivalents, raise money in small sums from private individuals. The co-ops strike binding deals with schools & other public bodies, earning agreed revenue from savings or sales of excess generation atop classrooms.

Grant sources such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme offer cash for capital upgrades to boost efficiency.   But bidders greatly outnumber donors, and schools must compete with NHS- or council-managed presmises, such as leisure centres, swimming pools and hospitals

eEnerygy’s report quotes evidence that only 21% of the £1.27 billion handed out over the last two phases of the PSDS scheme went to schools, a 20% drop in value since the first funding wave in 2020.

“Cuts in school funding since 2014 have made funding projects aiding schools’ Net Zero transition unrealistic”, it claims

“Following the latest budget announcement, 2024-2025 funding is due to be 3% lower in real terms than it was in 2010. And the lack of available capital has been compounded by soaring running costs driven by external shocks to energy markets. These have  further depleted schools’ already tight budgets”.

Read eEnergy’s report here.

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While tolling arrangements and floor prices act to provide a predictable income, the merchant model, where revenues are tied to market prices, introduces an element of risk but also the potential for higher returns. As stakeholders gain a deeper understanding of the risk-return dynamics within the battery storage sector, a more balanced and informed investment landscape emerges.

This trend signifies a maturing market where investors are progressively embracing the potential of battery storage assets while strategically managing associated risks, says GridBeyond’s latest white paper ‘Tolls, floors and merchant models: Do higher risks mean higher returns for battery storage investors?’ by Scott Berrie, Asset Development Director at GridBeyond.

The paper also looks at the battery storage models, associated risks and potential profitability. There are numerous financing options available for battery storage assets including tolling model, merchant model and trading opportunities like Frequency Response Services, Capacity Market and Balancing Mechanism (BM), and wholesale market trading. High energy prices, capacity market auctions, new frequency response products, local flexibility tenders and pathfinder projects have further increased investor appetite for energy storage technologies. Investors are also getting more comfortable with the associated merchant risk and understand that in the absence of long-term or government-backed contracts, the market has created mechanisms that allow a route to market for battery systems says Scott Berrie.

Scott Berrie, Asset Development Director at GridBeyond commented, “Storage assets are a great opportunities for businesses which can increase their revenues according to their strategy and objectives while moving towards net zero goals, AI together with a suite of trading services, allow businesses to generate revenues allowing full access-to-market and to the most lucrative balancing services”.

Download the white paper here.

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The body’s Net Zero Heat programme is handing out £7.6 million across three projects nationwide. They range from AI-powered solutions helping landlords bring homes up to standard, to a new off-site approach to retrofit, to data-driven decisions for upgrading non-domestic buildings.

The Climate Change Committee calculates 23% of UK emissions come from heating the nation’s 30 million buildings.

Innovate UK ran a competition, Design Engineering Innovation Lab, to invest in the development of renewable heating technologies which are both innovative and scalable across the UK. Energy suppliers, technology providers, research organisations & community groups responded.

The project proposals were required to reduce capital and installation costs across Net Zero renovations in a range of building types, such as the fabric of the building, and decarbonised heat technologies.

The five-day collaborative sessions produced eight project ideas, three of which were successful in securing a total of £7,615,622 in grant support.

Winners include the Let Zero project, led by South Yorkshire’s Mayoral Combined Authority. The 18-month venture works with private landlords rented sector to improve decision making on renovations. It secured £2.4m to develop an AI-powered solution, to steer give landlords a clear direction for upgrading their properties, tailored to the needs of the occupants. After local trials, replicating the pilot nationwide may be possible..

Another winner, Transform-ER, is a project led by Energiesprong UK. Securing £3.3m, it seeks to speed retrofit cases among UK homes to 1 million per year by 2030.

Elemental Power is the third winner. It accepts £1.9m for a project to transform how insulation retrofits are carried in non-domestic buildings. Simulating real buildings digitally, and using locally provided renewables are methods employed.

Innovate UK deputy challenge director Mike Pitts welcomed the programme’s three biggest awards to date.

“Our Net Zero Heat programme seeks to overcome barriers to innovation, helping the UK prosper as we move quickly away from gas for heat in building”, said Pitt.

More on the Net Zero Heat programme here

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National Gas Metering recently entered into a strategic partnership with Tyseley Energy Park, providing an ideal base to enable research and development into hydrogen gas infrastructure and metering products, building capability and competence to provide evidence to support the use of hydrogen in commercial settings.

The NGM Hydrogen Team has worked tirelessly with its appliance partner, Falcon Food Services over the last six months in designing a hydrogen service from scratch developing a hydrogen supply system, connection, metering and environment into a commercial kitchen – replicating hotels and restaurants across the country.

The kitchen was built using rigours safety standards and includes safety protective devices both passive and active systems to ensure high levels of process safety.

The team collaborated with multiple external partners and industry stakeholders, including Falcon Appliance manufacturers (who will use the facility to test their appliances working on hydrogen), Metersit, Pietro Fiorentini and Enertek Consultants plus others.

Hydrogen has the potential to support a net zero future and at the point of combustion as it burns without any carbon dioxide releases. The kitchen was officially commissioned to allow the consumption of hydrogen on 29 February.

Metering Head of Commercial Simon Jamieson said: “This is an exciting moment on our hydrogen journey and a testament to how multi partner collaboration can come together to develop solutions that support energy futures.  We look forward to sharing more updates on the projects happening in our facility at Tyseley Energy Park in the future.”

For more information on how National Gas Metering can assist your business with the transition to hydrogen please click here.

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The figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero cover installations to the end of December 2023.

Of 20,000 homes targeted by ministers for improvement under SHDF Wave 1, measures have been delivered in 13,100 properties, or 66% of the planned total. With Wave 1 winding down and more projects being delivered under Wave 2.1, it is increasingly unlikely that the government’s target will be met.

The vast majority of homes were upgraded from EPC rating D to C.  Under SHDF Wave 1, 19% of measures were installed in the North West, 15% in the West Midlands and 14% in the North East.  The South East and South West regions registered just 5% and 3% of their respective target.

Industry experts Procure Plus have helped organisations navigate challenges in delivering projects.

While some organisations have faced challenges in delivering projects under the scheme, market-leading procurement business Procure Plus say that they have been able to assist with unlocking the ‘huge opportunities’ that SHDF offers.

The company, which helps to deliver value for money in the social housing sector has had particular success working with organisations in the North West and West Midlands to navigate the complexities of the scheme, as well as labour market and supply chain issues.

Regional variations

Government statistics report that, of the 25,000 measures installed under SHDF Wave 1, 4,800 measures (19%) were installed in the North West region, with 3,900 measures installed in the West Midlands (15%) and 3,500 measures in the North East (14%). The South West (3%) and South East (5%) had the lowest proportion of measures delivered.

The figures show that 77% of the properties upgraded under Wave 1 were previously EPC rating D, with 5% from C, 15% from EPC E, F and G. The EPC rating of the other 3% was previously unknown.

Of the properties that started in EPC D, 77% moved into EPC C, with 12% reaching EPC B and just 1% achieving EPC A.

This reflects the fact that the vast majority of measures installed under Wave 1 were ‘fabric first,’ comprising insulation (14,500 measures, 58%) and windows and doors (5,300 measures, 21%).

Despite low take up in its first wave, the SHDF programme continues.  The majority of measures installed so far under SHDF Wave 2.1 are following a similar fabric first approach to Wave 1.

Procure Plus managing director Gwen Beeken said: “The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund brings significant opportunity to ensure our ageing housing stock is fit for the future, as well as being more comfortable and affordable for tenants.

“We often hear from the sector that there can be significant challenges in delivering SHDF projects, including issues with the labour market and supply chain.

“But that doesn’t need to be the case, appropriately considering the risks and opportunities, engaging with the supply chain and structuring the project correctly means we have many great examples across the UK of this investment being delivered successfully – on budget and on time. In all of them, the ability of landlords to work collaboratively with others to pull together, manage and continuously improve commercial arrangements has been key.

“We look forward to continuing to assisting even more fantastic organisations to rise to the challenge of SHDF.”

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An initial site visit revealed that the hotel’s existing boilers were fuelled by an expensive oil-based fuel source. In addition, they were old and inefficient. Taking into consideration the hotel’s need to not only save money, but also reduce carbon emissions, Helec recommended the use of gas instead of heating oil. As natural gas was unavailable, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was chosen. Heat pumps were considered but were found not to be suitable for the hotel’s needs.

Project Planning and Collaboration

Working closely with Tewkesbury Park, Helec created a detailed project plan, encompassing civil works, plumbing upgrades, and the installation of CHP units. The planning was carefully prepared to minimise any disruptions to the hotel’s busy day to day operations.

The old oil boilers were removed and replaced with new Strebel S-FX320 LPG boilers. Next, six new Grundfos pumps were installed, integrating three Galu 2,500 litre thermal stores. These thermal stores enable a much larger heat output for short periods than the new boilers would be capable to provide on their own.

A bespoke Building Management System (BMS) was implemented to monitor and control the energy distribution within the hotel. The BMS is managed remotely, making updates and improvements quick and easy. In addition, two new CHP units were installed: a 50kWe will operate almost continiously to satisfy the hotel’s base load. A second unit (75kWe) will top up any shortfall while also offering a standby power facility in the event of power cuts.

Result: Energy Security, Efficiency Gains and Environmental Impact

This setup now provides Tewkesbury Park with absolute energy security. Their remote location meant reliance on the National Grid came with connection issues and the very real possibility of outages. Now, with dual engines installed, operations can continue completely unimpeded by the possibility of power cuts.

The installation of the CHP units and more energy-efficient boilers marked a significant milestone for Tewkesbury Park, not only with regard to addressing energy cost concerns, but also in enhancing overall efficiency and reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint.

Transitioning from oil-powered boilers to LPG boilers, alongside the installation of CHP units, has resulted in a substantial reduction in overall operating costs, with the additional bonus of further reducing the hotel’s environmental impact. The hotel benefited from immediate savings of 30% on heating bills, further electricity savings from the CHP’s reduced carbon emissions, and improved environmental credibility for Tewksbury Park. Future savings are estimated at £114K (electricity) and £120K (heating) per year.

Chris McIntosh, Director of Tewkesbury Park Hotel, is impressed by the outcome, “One of the impressive aspects of Helec is how they handle a lot of the work themselves. From planning to implementation they are there with you 100% of the way. The CHP units are a fantastic investment.”

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But why are new builds so energy-efficient? Here we explore four key attributes of these modern homes that contribute to minimising their environmental impact.

Improved layouts

While most favour an open-plan layout for the modern aesthetic, the design is actually an effective method for reducing energy usage. This is because it’s much easier to keep the temperature consistent in a room free from obstructions.

As a result, new build homes often feature an open-plan ground floor as opposed to numerous closed-off rooms. In addition to this, open-plan designs also allow the installation of more efficient heating systems rather than your standard single radiator in each room.

Advanced technology

It’s all well and good ensuring the property is equipped to retain heat and reduce energy bills but this is made redundant if appliances in the home continue to waste energy unnecessarily. Fortunately, new builds are fitted with state-of-the-art appliances and technology.

Whether it’s low-energy lightbulbs throughout the home or restricted-flow taps, every fixture and fitting is specially designed to minimise energy usage. You’ll even find different types of heating systems like energy-efficient boilers or air-source heat pumps.

Some selected homes come with solar panels, which are able to produce hot water. Not only does this save on energy bills but also reduces the carbon footprint of the property.

Further insulation

With these increasingly cold winters and sudden heatwaves in the summer, it’s important for homes to be able to maintain a comfortable temperature. Not just for our benefit but for the sake of saving energy.

New housing typically includes upgrades in insulation like foam underneath flooring, sustainable materials in cavity walls, and deeper loft insulation. A combination of these ensures energy usage is minimised in the home as much as possible.

To help regulate the temperature of the home, new builds are fitted with double-glazing windows and trickle vents. The latter is also beneficial for removing excess moisture buildup in the air that can lead to damp in the property.

Use of eco-friendly materials

New builds have the advantage of being built in the modern day when sustainable materials are known and readily available. As an example, timber has proven to be much more energy-efficient for retaining heat compared to traditional masonry – a common feature of older properties.

Even bamboo has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative. While it’s already been used in certain cultures for centuries, it is now being utilised more in new build properties thanks to its light weight, flexibility, and strength.

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Container shipping is estimated to account for 3% of global carbon emissions, and is considered one of the hardest sectors to abate.

The company developed equipment for container ships, using a proprietary second-generation CCUS technique known as calcium looping.   The method transforms gas-based pollution into solid pebbles of calcium carbonate, easily offloaded at port for reuse or for sale.

In a Turkish shipyard Seabound had its ‘scrubbing’ system retro-fitted to the ‘Sounion Trader’, a vessel big enough to carry 3,200 containers, and operated by freighting giant Lorimar.

Two months of sea trials on voyages around the Mediterranean saw a massive one-tonne a day of CO2 extracted from the vessel’s diesel exhaust.  The kit’s maiden voyage saw 78% of carbon captured, along with more than 90% of atmospheric sulfur.

Those tests lay the foundation for larger-scale installations, Seabound says. The innovator believes its system has the potential to capture up to 95% of CO2 emissions from a ship’s exhaust.

Seabound and its experimenting partner jointly secured £1.2 million in grant funding from the UK government, under last year’s round of Whitehall’s £23 million Clean Maritime Demonstration competition.

“Our pilot project demonstrates we can capture emissions directly onboard ships, in a simple and cost-effective way”, said the innovator’s co-founder Alisha Fredriksson.

“This breakthrough demonstrates that the shipping industry doesn’t have to wait for new fuels or solutions to reduce its emissions in the future. We can start to capture carbon from the existing fleet today.”

At its partner LomarLabs, managing director Stylianos Papageorgiou was enthusiastic.

“Seabound’s technology presents an attractive and viable solution to reducing carbon emission, with a technology that is simple to install, operate and maintain,”,. “We are excited to join Seabound’s mission and believe their technology could be instrumental in driving a cleaner future for maritime transport.”

Marine risk managers, including Lloyd’s Register, approved the operating profile of the firm’s techology.

Seabound is now focusing on delivering full-scale CCUS systems next year for commercial operation. Recognising its technology’s revolutionary potential, the firm’s investors include Y Combinator, Lowercarbon Capital and Eastern Pacific Shipping.

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A key barrier preventing homeowners from taking action is that they don’t believe they have the knowledge to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. That snags Brits before we begin, despite 50% of us agreeing it is important homes are made ready by 2035 for Net Zero.

When asked, only 30% of homeowners say we are confident we knew what to do to meet that deadline.  A tad over a quarter, 27% of us, agree we wouldn’t be able to identify the improvements our home need to be greener.

Energy usage & bills unsurprisingly remain a key concern for homeowners.  However, only a third have taken action to improve their property’s energy efficiency in the last five years.

Among people who have undertaken these improvements, satisfaction with the results is logged at 96%, nearly universal. Almost two thirds, 64%, said the running costs of their home are lower after making the changes. 81% said they would recommend this type of work to a friend, family member or work colleague.

However, when asked what support might have been useful before starting their retrofit journey, over a fifth (21%) said they’d have welcomed advice and support on how to go about the process.

Along with greater support and guidance on energy efficiency measures, access to skills is also a key factor, the study finds. 24% of us state we expect direction towards skilled tradespeople to help bring properties towards on track for the government’s paramount green goal.

Two industry-level studies in 2023 documented shortages in green skills, including a shortfall of 200,000 retro-fit installers and 100,000 heat-pump technicians.   Such absences will, the Lloyds researchers indicate, soon increasingly impede the UK’s journey to net-zero homes.

Addressing the problem, Lloyds has partnered with Regeneration Brainery, a not-for-profit academy training for young people. Match-made mentoring, work experience placements, career talks, bootcamps and taster sessions are the organisation’s offering, now reaching 6,000 young people.

Andrew Asaam, Homes Director, Lloyds Banking Group said:  “The UK is home to some of the oldest housing stock the world. This means many of our homes are poorly insulated, and people are having to use huge amounts of energy to warm them – resulting in high energy bills and large carbon emissions.

“Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a crucial step in individually and collectively reducing our energy consumption, but homeowners just don’t know where to begin and the lack of available skills to deliver the upgrades is an increasing concern.

“If UK homeowners are to get retro-fit in 2024, we must see more collective action from industry, government and financial institutions to support them in this vital transition. That’s why we launched our Making Homes Greener initiative, a journey that will see us trial new tools and collaborations, such as our work with Regeneration Brainery, to improve the energy efficiency of Britain’s homes.”

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The London Efficient & Decentralised Generation of Energy (EDGE) fund will support new low-carbon infrastructure projects across the capital’s 32 boroughs.

Khan has committed £50 million from City Hall funds, to be matched pound for pound from SDCL’s resources. The asset managers will also manage the public-private EDGE project.

The EDGE fund’s remit is to invest in projects which promise significant reductions in energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants across London.

SDCL first floated its EDGE concept in July 2019. Building on the private asset managers’ expertise in low-carbon infrastructure, EGDE will focus on energy efficiency, on-site generation and clean energy. Projects will include installing building management systems, heat pumps, solar panels and EV-charging.

Running until 2027, EDGE will nurture projects accelerating London’s shift to Net Zero. Its backers claim it will set a global example of how private finance and cities can work together to achieve decarbonisation goals by investing in projects promoting green jobs and low-carbon infrastructure.

EDGE monies will take the lead in attracting private investment, acting as a keystone investment for the London Climate Finance Facility, which also includes the Green Finance Fund.

Khan’s faces re-election for a third term in May. His 2021 manifesto promised a finance facility dedicated to the capital. The GLA commissioned advice on methods and structures needed for a London Climate Finance Facility (LCFF).

In 2018 under Khan’s leadership London was the first global city to declare a climate emergency. He wants it to reach Net Zero by 2030, ahead of the UK Government’s 2050 goal.   The Mayor’s office cites the EDGE Fund as one of several ways he works with private investors to cut London’s carbon emissions.

Khan declared: “I’m committed to making London Net Zero by 2030. This is achievable, as long as we work closely together to help deliver energy efficient and low carbon projects.

“This new fund will help us unlock additional investment from the private sector and enable us to support many more organisations across the city as they make energy efficient choices.

“London is a world-leading city and this fund will support hundreds of companies as we build a better, cleaner and greener London for all.”

SDCL’s founder and CEO Jonathan Maxwell said: “London is a global hub for servicing the transition we need.

“Since SDCL launched we’ve worked with industrial customers around the world to help improve their economic competitiveness and drive their decarbonisation strategies”.

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Among 2,000 homes polled for the company, 56% of billpayers fear for their ability to meet bills at unprecedented levels, a rise of 13% on last winter.

With Ofgem ordering a raise this quarter in its energy price cap, domestic bill payers have more than doubled online searches year on year for advice on energy efficiency.  Quarter against quarter,^.web searches rose by 53% .

With typical dual fuel bills now double what they were two years ago, EdF’s research has convinced it to commit £185 million more to efficiency advice and related measures.

EdF is upping by £103million this year’s spending on its ECO and Great British Insulation Schemes.  Improving EPC ratings of an 14,000 homes with new energy saving kit, is at the heart of the initiative.   The supplier calculates savings will amount to between £700 and £800 per year.

Since Christmas 2022, the company’s research tells it 36% of all UK households have invested in at least one bill-saving step. Most popular among householders taking action have been underfloor insulation, installed by 57%, followed by radiator panels, adopted by 53%.

With 77% of households believing that more needs to be done to support vulnerable customers, and a fifth worrying about falling into arrears, EdF says its investment will offer eligible customers living in a home with a low EPC rating a package of free energy-saving measures and heating improvements to help bring down bills permanently and improve their homes EPC rating.

EdF managing director for customers Philippe Commaret commented: “People are concerned about keeping their homes warm in a cost-effective way. Tackling the energy efficiency of people’s homes is the number one way we can help to reduce bills and we’re not choosing to stand still or wait.

“Our extra £103m on the ECO and Great British Insulation Schemes this year which will deliver savings to thousands of vulnerable customers.”

EdF is also launching a new Home Efficiency Hub, a tool where customers can create a free tailored plan to boost home energy efficiency. Links to qualified installers are included. The plan also sets out any grants or funding that may be available, saving customers energy and time, helping them reduce their emissions.

Checks for eligibility can be made here.

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Bids by council and NHS officials under round 3c of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme opened yesterday, after initial technical problems. The portal will stay open for 10 working days.

Decision-makers at grant administrators Salix Finance note that the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero is keeping the Phase 3c drawdowns open for an extra year, allowing grants for projects approved now to be spent as late as the end of the 2024-25 financial year.

Phase 3c is the final one of three sub-phases of the PSDS’ Phase 3.  All told, Phase 3 is designed to make £1.425 billion in grants available to town hall officials and facilities managers of public buildings eager to improve energy efficiency in public buildings.

Among 183 grant winners in the now closed Phase 3b included backers of 231 projects, which together received £603 million. Almost £100 million of that 3b money went to projects in greater London. A further £135 million of phase 3b money was spent in the south east.

Among big recipients in phase 3b included, in the north west region alone, the Ministry of Justice with £15.8 million and Manchester Metropolitan University, with £5.6 million. In the east Midlands, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust received £40 million.

In east Anglia, Phase 3b recipients included Cambridge University with £0.3 million, and one of its colleges, Pembroke, which independently pocketed 0.7 million.  Cambridgeshire County Council received £2 million to fund 3 improvement projects.

Among London boroughs last time around on PSDS Phase 3b, the biggest recipients were Hillingdon, receiving £13.8 million, Ealing on £13.7 million and Hackney with £12.6 million.  Lambeth got £10.5 million for two projects, and Merton received £3.1 million.

The Met police received £9.5 million and north London’s Whittington NHS Trust £2.5 million.

No non-council, publicly eligible school south of the Thames received a Phase 3b grant. Instead, eight Church of England schools, all north of the river, shared a total of £4.3 million.

For current sub-phase 3c applications, see Salix Finance’s site here.

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The UK Business Climate Hub includes a free carbon calculator for enterprises, and new tools to help them measure and report on their emissions. Saving money by using less energy is included in the website.

It offers detailed advice on topics ranging from sourcing products from green suppliers, to reducing logistics-related emissions. Tips on the most cost-effective ways to instal solar panels and EV charging points are in the package.

Ministers assert that 90% of SMEs are keen to tackle climate change but find it difficult to know how or where to start.

SMEs going green often find the process good for business. Studies show 85% of consumers are more likely to buy from a firm with a reputation for sustainability, meaning going green can help grow the economy.

Graham Stuart MP, minister of state for energy security and Net Zero – pictured left above – said: “The UK has cut its emissions more than any other major economy in the world. More and more businesses are recognising the business benefits of reaching net zero and we’re determined to empower them to do so.

The new UK Business Climate Hub is a one-stop-shop for businesses. Whether it’s fitting a low-carbon heat pump, generating energy with solar panels, or reducing the emissions from shipping goods, the new support will ensure businesses can drive towards net zero.”

Sustainability strategist Laimonas Noreika, CEO of HeavyFinance added: “This hub will play a crucial role in enabling Britain’s businesses to take meaningful action against the climate change emergency.

“It is a step in the right direction and will help business owners across the country to develop long term sustainable strategies that will assist the UK in its journey towards Net Zero.”

Entrepreneur Steven Mooney, CEO, FundMyPitch added, “At a time when interest rates are surging and inflation remains stubbornly high, this new hub offers invaluable guidance to empower entrepreneurs to build a truly effective green strategy.

“The vast majority of company owners will always go the extra mile to build responsible, environmentally friendly businesses, but they also need access to finance and support to turn their dreams into reality.”

Helping employee switch from car commuting to ride-sharing, buses and cycling and paying less for company EVs. Securing business grants, green loans and financing for a retrofit, are considered as are emissions cutting from farming and land management, buying credible carbon offsets and reducing waste and recycling.

Access the UK Business Climate Hub here.

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