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Schools can travel a long way through their decarbonisation journey without need for much additional funding. For example, the ABCs and inserting energy efficient features don’t require much funding. These investments may even save you money!
For those items which do require additional funding you can find your options below.
Run by: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Carbon (via Salix)
Open to: All public sector bodies
Funding Opens: PSDS4 is due to open in Autumn 2024 with guidance released in summer 2024.
Specialist Advice and Modelling is required to apply for this fund – which in itself can be expensive to secure. Low Carbon Skills Funding (LCSF) can help fund applications (unfortunately this fund is now closed for 2024)
Guidance can be found here
This is the only funding pot which will really fund the full decarbonisation of schools. Our experience has indicated that some schools may require full scale roof insulation upgrades, cavity wall insulation, installation of LED lighting, installation of solar PV, the removal of oil or gas boilers to be replaced by air or ground source heat pumps, and the potential upgrade to the heating distribution system to become decarbonised.
PSDS will pay for up to 88% of the costs of this but only in the most eligible buildings. Most Grant Offers that are made are in the region of 45%-65% of overall costs. The funding stream is designed to meet the needs of really energy-inefficient buildings, rather than high emitting buildings.
The funding is then made available through a SALIX grant which is closely monitored and reported upon. The criteria of PSDS is not particularly designed for schools, and also requires extensive and expensive design and surveying work to complete a bid.
It is difficult to use this funding for full decarbonisation works (although it will have to be used to support any PSDS bid if one is submitted), but it can pay for the installation of LED lights and Solar Panels which will cut electricity costs, and importantly insulation upgrades to buildings which will cut carbon emissions by reducing the need to heat the building. The Regional Consultants should be able to advise where these investments may best be targeted. It should be noted that Governing Boards of VA schools have a 10% liability on any SCA grant allocated, although there is some funding through the national Framework to assist with the 10% liability on the SCA element that has had to be committed within a PSDS bid.
Administered and distributed by Diocesan Boards of Education for Voluntary Aided Schools
Open to: Voluntary Aided schools only and VC Schools through their Local Authorities
Government Grant Funding calculated annually
Governing Funding via Department for Education
Capital funding allocated directly to individual schools annually, but often administered through Diocesan Boards of Education. This can be rolled-forward for three years to secure a larger-pot of funding available for the school.
DFC can be a useful funding source for schools to access for relatively low-cost but high-impact fabric improvement works. With the additional DFE provided in December 2022 specifically for improvements designed to save energy, many schools will have access to enough funding to install LED lights, or add new or additional insulation to walls and roof spaces. This will all help reduce heating and electricity bills – often by significant amounts. Some schools may even have enough to purchase Solar PVs
Some Boards of Education may encourage schools to use DFC for energy-efficient or energy-saving products by allocating small amounts of SCA to help projects ‘get over the line’.
VA schools should contact their Boards of Education to discuss further.
This is competitive government funding open only for Academies. Bids are submitted on an annual basis to a central body. Putting together bids and applications is not necessarily straightforward, and grants are awarded based on the collective need of the academy sector and building priorities at the time. CIF Funding can be used to make up the client contribution in any PSDS bid.
Run by: Government Funding
Open to: Allocated to academies only through competitive bids on an annual basis through a national process administered by the DfE
Deadline Bids: Early December