Community Solar Accelerator is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded, SME support project delivered by Brighton Energy Co-op.
The project aims to support the shift towards a low carbon economy in the Coast to Capital region and beyond, by promoting solar PV and electric vehicle charging use in SMEs.
Community Solar Accelerator will enable SMEs to reduce CO2 emissions by match funded grants of up to £25,000 towards either solar PV arrays or solar PV arrays and electric vehicle charging points.
Grants are available at up to 40 per cent of total eligible costs and are paid once the work is complete and paid for. Match funding of 60 per cent of the project cost will come from the SME and loans, investments, savings and company reserves can be used. However, your time can't be included as match funding.
To be eligible for support you must be a small or medium-sized business SME meeting the following criteria:
- Employing 250 (FTE) or fewer
- Having an annual turnover of £44M or less and an annual balance sheet of £38M or less
- If another firm owns more than a quarter of your company, they must meet the above criteria
- Your organisation must not have received more than approximately £180,000 of state aid in the last three years.
Community Solar Accelerator grants are predominantly for organisations registered and operating in the Coast to Capital LEP area, although organisations from more-developed regions of England are eligible.
Find out if you are eligible by completing the Expression of Interest or via email.
The Community Solar Accelerator programme will run until 30 June 2023.
