South West wins £2m from EU to boost green energy

Bristol, Devon and Plymouth councils have been awarded almost £2m from the EU to deliver renewable energy projects.

The €1.9 million grant from the European Investment Bank and the European Commission will fund new energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport and heat networks projects across Bristol, Devon, Plymouth and the wider region over the next three years.

Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for energy, waste and regulatory services, Kye Dudd said: ‘This is yet another really exciting step towards carbon reduction in Bristol. The scale of sustainable development generated by the last ELENA grant made an enormously positive impact on our ability to deliver clean energy for the city, so we have high hopes for the opportunities that come with this latest round of European funding.

‘It’s great that Bristol has once again been recognised as a national leader in the field of sustainability as our goal to become a carbon neutral city by 2050 moves a step closer. It’s even more exciting now that we are in a position to share our knowledge and expertise with other parts of the region, helping them to reduce carbon and provide clean energy to towns and cities across the South West.’

This is Bristol City Council’s second successful funding bid from the European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility which provided the city with £50m funding for a host of energy and sustainability projects for the city in 2014.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for environment, added: ‘The funding will help us to kick start a range of projects which will support the council in delivering its target of reducing the Devon region’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

‘These projects will also give us more control over energy use, will reduce air pollution from transport and generate energy which will improve the quality of life for Devon’s residents.

‘We anticipate that this funding will stimulate Devon’s renewable energy sector and lead to at least £16m being invested into low carbon projects in the county.’