Regional ELENA bid

Climate East Midlands (in conjunction with East Midlands Councils and sponsored by East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership) is submitting a bid to the European Investment Bank for Elena funds to help local authorities and NHS Trusts get their energy efficiency and low carbon projects off the ground. If successful, this will raise £1m in grant aid to pay for technical assistance and boost project management capacity.

ELENA funding is designed to facilitate the implementation of carbon reduction measures by public authorities - including those contained in adopted Carbon Management Plans. The funding is from the European Investment Bank and will give £9 for every £1 of match funding.  ELENA cannot support capital costs or initial feasibility work. Rather, it is designed to support the development of a full business case for viable projects which can then begin to be implemented within 3 years of receiving the money.

Further background information on ELENA can be found at: http://www.eib.org/projects/publications/elena.htm (introductory brochure) and http://www.eib.org/products/technical_assistance/elena/index.htm (FAQ on programme development support)

The Board of East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership has allocated £100,000 of Climate Skills Programme funds towards a regional ELENA bid, giving a potential pot of £1 million. Initial feedback from the European Investment Bank has been positive and we are submitting a revised Expression of Interest in June and planning to follow this up with a full application as soon as possible. The full application process takes about 6 months, so if successful, we would hope to start the project in early 2013.

 ELENA funding is a major opportunity to help you turn a Carbon Management Plan into real cash and carbon savings.  If you have projects contained in your Carbon Management Plan which could begin to be implemented within the next 3 years, but for which further work on a full business case is required, then we would like to hear from you.. 

There is a teleconference for interested partners on Monday 11th June, 1.30 - 2.30pm. 

Please contact any of the following for more information:

Mike Peverill T: 01664 502 628; M: 07854 284 588; E: [email protected]

Andrew Pritchard T: 01664 502 641; E: [email protected]

Jan Sensier T: 01664 502 631; E: [email protected]