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The Rural Carbon Challenge Fund (RCCF), which is to be implemented through the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), aims to help rural and regional communities achieve renewable energy projects.

It aims to fund at least five, large-scale renewable energy projects throughout the area"s sub regions. The funding will focus on whichever wind, hydro or bio-mass fuel energy is most relevant to the community and will also provide training and support to social and micro-enterprises.

The Rural Carbon Challenge Fund (RCCF) is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It was one of the low carbon initiatives launched by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) at its third annual Climate Change Conference in Manchester and part of the revised Northwest Climate Change Action Plan for 2010–2012.

Robert Hough, chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) speaking recently about the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan, says that: “The new Climate Change Action Plan provides a clear and robust framework to ensure the northwest is in the best possible position to contribute to national carbon-reduction targets, and increase resilience to climate impacts. Equally as important will be our ability to capitalise on the economic opportunities this brings.”

From this coming April 2010, five dedicated staff will be in place to deliver the Rural Carbon Challenge Fund (RCCF) across the Northwest of England and provide dedicated support in preparing applications, helping micro-enterprises, social enterprises and community groups submit joint expressions of interest and to help them in developing and delivering their projects.

Funding is to be delivered through the Energy Saving Trust and Envirolink Northwest

Project delivery partners – the Energy Saving Trust and Envirolink Northwest – hope that the funding will in particular support micro-enterprises in setting up or expand renewable energy businesses and to also help in gaining new skills through training, and social enterprises to get help with the capital cost of producing energy, technical support, feasibility studies, training and establishment costs of a project.

Application forms and guidance notes will be made available from next month (March 2010), after which sub-regional bidder"s briefings will be run to provide more information to potential applicants wanting to set-up a rural or regional renewable energy project.

Related Links:
www.nwda.co.uk
www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk