Low Carbon Skills Fund: working with organisations to plan their net zero future
We are delighted to work with public sector organisations across the country as they develop their net zero future thanks to the support of the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund.
The Low Carbon Skills Fund is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and provides grants for public sector organisations to engage specialist and expert advice and skills needed to create robust heat decarbonisation plans to prepare for heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency works.
The organisations that received funding under the recent Phase 5 of the Low Carbon Skills Fund will be delivering their heat decarbonisation plans and/or detailed designs by 31 March 2025.
For public sector organisations that were unsuccessful in applying for previous phases of the Low Carbon Skills Fund or are considering future opportunities to develop a heat decarbonisation plan (HDP), we would like to highlight the support available to help develop strategy-stage heat decarbonisation plans.
What is a strategy stage heat decarbonisation plan?
For Phase 5 of Low Carbon Skills Fund applicants were encouraged to approach their heat decarbonisation plans through three phases:
- Strategy stage
- Feasibility stage
- Design stage
Establishing a strategy to reach net zero is the first step in the heat decarbonisation planning process. It involves gathering key information on the current energy consumption and emissions intensity of your buildings, as well as setting objectives and targets.
This will help organisations understand where to start the heat decarbonisation planning process. It can help prioritise which projects should be brought forward for further planning work first, for example, by identifying buildings with end-of-life heating systems and/or where the most cost-effective action is likely to be.
As the least technically complex and most easily standardised heat decarbonisation planning activity, organisations may be able to develop a strategy stage heat decarbonisation plan in-house.
Further support and templates
In collaboration with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Local Net Zero Hubs, we have partnered with Energy Systems Catapult (the Catapult) who have developed a set of two strategy-stage templates that organisations can work through to develop a comprehensive strategy-stage heat decarbonisation plan.
The templates include:
- an excel-based strategy-stage data capture form which set outs a clear format for important data and building information to be collected
- a template that provides a structure for bringing together the key elements considered at strategy stage into a coherent, concise strategy document (including an editable version)
Local Net Zero Hubs
Alongside the templates, we would like to make organisations aware of existing support available through the hubs. The hubs have dedicated teams in place to support public sector organisations throughout the heat decarbonisation planning lifecycle.
They can support organisations to develop strategy stage heat decarbonisation plans, through technical advice and knowledge sharing.
If you are interested in carrying out a strategy stage plan, we would like to encourage you to contact the Local Net Zero Hub in your area and familiarise yourself with the strategy-stage templates linked to below. For information see the hub websites and emails the hub teams.
Information about any future phases of the Low Carbon Skills Fund will continue to be communicated by Salix and the Department should further funding be made available.
If you have any questions about the Low Carbon Skills Fund, please contact our team [email protected]
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