It’s no secret that energy prices are on the rise, but there is support available for your business…
We’re willing to bet that there isn’t an SME in the region that isn’t bracing itself for the oncoming energy storm this winter. With recent spikes in pricing pushing up rates for non-domestic customers and no price cap in place to curtail rising costs for businesses, you’d be forgiven for panicking about how you’ll afford your business’ energy costs this year. However, there are actions you can take now to prepare your business and make the most of current grant schemes and initiatives on offer, and that’s where Target 2030 comes in.
Target 2030 is currently offering 30% grant funding towards installing energy-saving improvements and a free energy survey, carried out by a qualified Business Energy Assessor, to help SMEs get started on this journey. We want to encourage as many SMEs as possible to move their energy production on site, lowering carbon and cutting costs in the process. The service is funded through the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Severn Wye Energy Agency, a sustainability charity with 20 years of experience supporting local businesses.
As well as moving energy production on site (such as by installing solar PV on unutilised roof space), reducing energy consumption is key to making your business sustainable in the long term. The range of measures covered by the Target 2030 programme is vast enough to meet this challenge. Anything from insulation to air source heat pumps, LED lighting to huge solar arrays can be covered by the scheme. Plus, if your business uses specialist equipment (think injection moulding, dryers, fridges, compressors, or a dust extraction system), there’s a good chance the project will cover upgrades to your current system too.
Hundreds of SMEs across Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire have already benefited from the project.
A motorsport manufacturer in Gloucester installed an enormous 74kWp solar PV array on the roof of their warehouse, plus roof insulation as part of the works, saving a whopping £603,214 over the lifetime of the measures – and probably more now that prices have skyrocketed. Over 100 businesses in Swindon and Wiltshire businesses have benefited from the project too, including a fifth-generation farm shop who installed solar panels on the rooves of their barns, taking them a step closer to becoming carbon-neutral and saving them £10,000 a year on their energy bill.
We know that the challenge facing businesses this year is huge, but we want to make sure SMEs know that there is support available. You no longer need to be ‘green’ to incorporate energy efficiency improvements into your business strategy. In fact, against the backdrop of the current energy crisis, taking energy action could secure the longevity of your business.
Contact Target 2030 today to find out how we can improve the energy outlook for your business, email business@severnwye.org.uk or call 01452 835060
For full details about the programme, we recommend that you download the Target 2030 Client Guide, and ensure you have read the programme Terms and Conditions before embarking on any energy efficiency measures you may be considering.
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