Technology Programmes (Energy Technologies Institute)
The Energy Technologies Institute is a unique public-private partnership seeking to accelerate the deployment response to the UK’s renewable energy and CO₂ reduction targets.  It provides funding for programmes at all stages of technology development. The ETI has agreed a unique flexible funding framework with the European Commission that allows a variable mix of public and private funding. Projects may be co-funded with project participants, giving flexibility in access to Arising Intellectual Property to reflect contributions in cash and in kind. The ETI may also fund 100 per cent of project costs, or directly procure services at market rates, varying the mix of ETI public and private funds to allow for profit.

Environmental Transformation Fund (DECC)
The Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) is a new initiative to bring forward the development of new low carbon energy and energy efficiency technologies in the UK. The fund formally began operation on 1 April 2008, and is administered by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The ETF has UK and international elements. Funds within the UK element of the Fund will total £400 million during the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 and will aim to accelerate the commercialisation of low carbon energy and energy efficiency technologies in the UK, focusing on the demonstration and deployment phases of these technologies. The Environmental Transformation Fund itself will not be open for direct funding requests. Instead, schemes funded by the ETF, such as those operated by the Carbon Trust and DECC, will be publicised via their websites. The UK ETF brings together Defra’s and DECC’s existing low carbon technology funding programmes together with a number of new investments to begin in 2008/09. Among the schemes covered by the ETF are Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Carbon Abatement Technologies Demonstration Programme, the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund (details for both of them are below) and a number of Carbon Trust programmes.

WRAP Capital Grant Funding (WRAP)
WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programme offers a number of capital grants programmes providing support in waste processing and reprocessing opportunities in the UK. These could be of interest for the development of waste to energy technologies, such as anaerobic digestion. There are currently five programmes open with application deadlines ranging from June 2010 to March 2011.

Energy Crops Scheme (Natural England)
Established under the Rural Development Programme for England 2007 - 2013, this scheme is now operated by Natural England and provides grants for holdings in England (minimum size of 3 hectares) where energy crops are grown that have an energy end-use for the crops (heat, power or combined heat and power). Funding will be 50% of actual costs of all plantings supported (i.e. miscanthus and short rotation coppice). Applications are possible throughout the year, but only applications received until 30 September can be approved in time for the next planting season.

Venture Capital (Carbon Trust)
Carbon Trust Investments acts as a co-investor in early-stage low carbon technologies and provides venture capital finance for UK-based investments.  Typical investments range between £250k-£3m per deal as a minority stakeholder alongside private sector investors on the same terms. If you have a technology that has commercial potential, have a completed business plan and have potential co-investors in place then you may be interested. No application deadline is mentioned on the website.

Housing Associations and Local Authorities (Energy Saving Trust)
The EST provides a range of resources to help local authorities and housing associations, along with their project partners, to promote and implement innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions from domestic housing in their local areas.

Clean Capital Network (Clean Capital)
The Clean Capital Network connects early growth companies with investors in the clean-tech and clean energy industries. It runs a monthly networking event in London where fund-seeking companies are given an opportunity to pitch their business case informally to the networking event attendees. The network is open to investors and fund managers across the clean-tech sector, as well as to companies and entrepreneurs looking for funding.

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