The South East New Energy (SENE) is a £6.4 million project, led by the University of East London and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project aims to help businesses decarbonise their operations and learn more about how we can remove the barriers to rapid decarbonisation. These changes are vital to meet the UK’s government target of net-zero by 2050.

South East New Energy is a research collaboration project. The European Regional Development Fund are funding the research. The project covers Essex, Kent, and East Sussex. Our goal is to understand and remove the barriers that prevent us rapidly decarbonising our communities, buildings, transport and lives.

We will work with business, councils, communities, organisations, households and individuals to:

• Develop and execute Net-Zero action plans
• Act in response to climate emergencies they have declared
• Build affordable zero-carbon homes
• Retrofit existing homes and commercial buildings
• Develop community and commercial energy projects
• Design, develop and bring to market new low carbon products and services

SENE can offer a limited number of services free of charge via our delivery partners. These include:

1) Free energy audits and surveys for renewable energy projects “I know I could save energy, but I don’t know how and don’t have the time to find out”. Our delivery partners can survey your facility and identify energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects that can save you money. We will deliver a report listing the most cost-effective projects.

2) Grants of up to £30,000 towards investment in energy projects. We have a limited amount of grant funding we can provide to businesses that invest in energy projects. Grants are for up to 25% of project value and are typically no greater than £30,000.

Who is eligible?

1) SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.

2) Organisations based within the SENE project region (Essex, Kent, East Sussex).

3) Organisations that have received less than £178,000 (€200,000) worth of publicly funded assistance (for example, support, grants or reliefs) over the last 3 financial years.

4) Organisations whose main business activity is not fisheries or aquaculture, agriculture or the processing of agricultural products, coal, steel, shipbuilding, synthetic fibres, banking, insurance, healthcare or school age education.

The SENE project has received funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding