Scottish Central Government Energy Efficiency Grant scheme: form and guidance

Eligibility

Who can apply

This fund is for public bodies who have no access to borrowing powers to enable them to progress zero emissions heat and energy efficiency projects, which have previously been challenging to deliver due to capital budget constraints.

Eligible public bodies who can apply to this fund are those classified by Office for National Statistics (ONS) as Scottish central government.

• Scottish Government directorates
• executive non-departmental public bodies of the Scottish Government
• executive agencies of the Scottish Government
• non-ministerial offices of the Scottish Government
• Scottish health bodies
• further education colleges

Public corporations are not eligible.

Integrated partnership organisations will not be able to make a separate application(s) in isolation from the public sector organisation they are integrated with. For example, in the instance of health and social care partnerships, the proposed project should be included as part of the relevant health board’s application(s).

Further information on eligibility

Only existing non-domestic buildings owned by eligible Scottish public bodies can be included in projects. Buildings rented/leased from the private sector are not eligible.

Buildings currently under PPI/PFI contracts are not eligible for capital grants at this time. However, if they are approaching milestones identified in the ‘Guidance on pathways to net zero for assets delivered under PPP contracts’, such as hand back at the end of a contract, and if there is commitment on the part of the contracted parties to investigating such options, the Scottish Government will consider projects’ eligibility for a Pre-Capital Grant on a case by case basis. Where eligible public bodies have a long term lease arrangement for a building(s) from another public body (e.g. local government) and the lease contract allows cost savings through improved energy efficiency to be passed to the eligible public body, potential support will be discussed on an individual basis.

Technologies reliant on the use of fossil fuels are not eligible. This includes measures such as gas replacement boilers and combined heat and power technologies that run on fossil fuels, including on a partial basis. Please note, at this stage we cannot support applications for zero emissions heat projects where the system is going to be incorporating new gas boilers.

The retention of existing systems may be eligible if the purpose is to provide resilience to a zero emissions heating solution. In this case, applications must demonstrate that the heating solution is optimised to achieve the maximum carbon benefit through the system’s control philosophy. The applicant must also set out their high plans for removing the fossil fuel system in their carbon strategy for the building(s).

Public bodies should align applications with any estate rationalisation plans and ensure that funding is only sought for buildings that are planned to remain in ownership and use and energy systems are sized to meet future demand.

LED Lighting is no longer eligible under the grant scheme.

Please see below list of eligible green technologies that will be considered for support through this fund: