Grants and Incentives

 

Enhanced Capital Allowances

The Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme, run by The Carbon Trust on behalf of DEFRA and the Inland Revenue, is designed to encourage businesses to invest in low carbon technologies.

The Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme enables businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances on investments in energy saving technologies and products. Businesses are now able to write off the whole cost of their investment against their taxable profits of the period during which they make the investment. This can deliver a helpful cash flow boost and a shortened payback period.

Visit the dedicated Carbon Trust ECA website at www.eca.gov.uk for a list of the products which are included on the ECA scheme, plus some of the new initiatives taken to encourage businesses to invest in energy saving schemes (see below).

The Carbon Trust is an independent, not for profit, company set up by the Government with support from business to take the lead on low carbon technology and innovation in this country.

 

Energy Efficiency Loans

An example of the new initiatives being offered by the Carbon Trust is the 0% interest "Energy Efficiency Loan" These loans are designed to save you money when you replace or upgrade your existing equipment with a more energy-efficient version.

If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in England or Wales (regional variations may apply), you could borrow £5,000 to £100,000 unsecured and interest free to fund equipment that will deliver energy savings, such as lighting, boilers or insulation. There are already similar schemes operating in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

Energy Saving Trust

You can also gain information on energy savings from The Energy Saving Trust www.est.org.uk, which was set up after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to also help reduce CO2 emissions in the UK. It is a non-profit organisation funded by governments and the private sector.