Energy Entrepreneurs Fund: phase 6

Phase 6 of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, a competitive funding scheme to support the development and demonstration of state of the art technologies, products and processes in the areas of energy efficiency, power generation, and heat and electricity storage, is now open for applications.

The Energy Entrepreneurs Fund seeks the best ideas, irrespective of source, across these energy technology areas from the public and private sector. The scheme particularly aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises, including start-ups, and those companies that are selected will receive additional funding for incubation support. A total of £10 million is available for projects in phase 6.

The objective of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund (EEF) is to support, through capital
grants, the development and demonstration of innovative technologies and/or processes in the areas of energy efficiency, power generation, and heat and energy storage.

The scheme seeks the best ideas, irrespective of source, in these areas from the public
and private sector. However, the scheme particularly aims to assist small and medium
sized enterprises, including start-ups. Those companies that are selected will receive
additional funding for incubation support.

The objective of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund (EEF) is to support, through capital
grants, the development and demonstration of innovative technologies and/or
processes in the areas of energy efficiency, power generation, and heat and energy
storage.

The scheme seeks the best ideas, irrespective of source, in these areas from the public and private sector.

However, the scheme particularly aims to assist small and medium sized enterprises.

During the application process, applicants will be expected to demonstrate a robust
evidence based case for funding, which will include but not be limited to:

• the potential impact of the innovation on 2050 low carbon targets or security of supply
• the technical viability of their innovation and coherent development plan that will
  commercially progress the innovation
• value for money, including cost reduction potential
• the size and nature of the business opportunity

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate that their project proposals meet the definition
of Industrial Research and Experimental Development.

To read definitions, click here. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for funding, proposed projects must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Innovation and technology readiness:
i. The project is at TRL 3 or above (Critical Function or Proof of Concept Established).
ii. Projects must fall within the EU General Block Exemption Regulation Article 2 definitions of industrial research or experimental development

2. Project Status: BEIS is unable to fund retrospective work on projects. The value of
retrospective work may, however, be considered in the assessment process.

3. Aid Intensity including cumulation: The funding levels applied for must be
consistent with the appropriate Block Exemption aid intensity levels (including
consideration of the cumulative effect of other forms of state aid) and costs must be
consistent with the eligible cost criteria

4. Match-funding: Given the aid intensity rules, applicants will need to have private
funding in place to cover the balance of the eligible costs. Such funding may come
from a company’s own resources or external private sector investors, but may not
include funding attributable to any public authority or EU institution. The match
funding must be at least 10% of the total project costs.

5. Project Location: The project’s activities must largely be conducted in the UK.

6. Grant size: The total requested grant does not exceed £1m, or £725,0002 if
applying as a small innovative start-up.  The maximum total project value must not exceed £2.5m. Since BEIS is seeking to maximise the impact of government funding, projects looking for public funding intensities that are lower than the applicable maximum are likely to score higher in the appraisal process.

7. Technology scope: The project must fit within one of the technology areas defined, click here. 

8. Project duration: Projects can last up to three years; however financial completion
must not exceed 31st March 2021.

For more information on the scheme, click here.

If you’d like more information on how TBAT can assist you, then get in touch. 

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