Funding opportunities

Phase 4 of the public sector decarbonisation scheme now open

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) supports public sector organisations with grant funding to install heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures in their buildings like heat pumps, LED lighting, building fabric improvements, and renewable energy sources. This funding can help us achieve the UK’s carbon reduction targets, while reducing energy costs and supporting energy resilience for the NHS.

Visit the Salix website for more information on phase 4: Phase 4 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme | Salix Finance

Key dates

• The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have confirmed dates for Phase 4 of the scheme. The portal will open for applications 9 October 2024 at 2pm and will close on 25 November 2024 at 2pm.
• Applications will be assessed once the application portal closes, and all successful applications will be awarded funding by approximately the end of May 2025.
• Projects must be delivered by 31 March 2028.

Key changes – applications no longer assessed ‘fastest finger first’

• A number of key changes have been made for Phase 4 of PSDS. It’s important you become familiar with these changes should you wish to apply for funding.
• Applications will now be prioritised by carbon cost initially, although this will also be impacted by the sector (‘education’, ‘health’ and ‘other’) and annual funding profile. 

Webinars

Salix Finance, who administer the scheme, are hosting a series of webinars to provide guidance and support to eligible applicants of the scheme. For more information, visit: Events | Salix Finance

There are two scheduled webinars dedicated for the health sector, including NHS trusts and health centres.

• Tuesday 5th November at 2pm. Sign up here
• Thursday 7th November at 2pm. Sign up here

Support with applications – NW Net Zero Hub

The North West Net Zero Hub has a specialist built environment team and resources that can provide support for PSDS Phase 4 applications.

They can provide tailored input to help develop your bid with guidance and support on:

• Guidance for PSDS Phase 4
• Application preparation
• Application checking
• Evidence checklist
• Evidence provision
• Technical assessment
• Feasibility review
• Submission review

The NW Hub team are available to meet collectively or individually and can be contacted via the main Hub mailbox or through the regional assigned team members of the Hub:

Cumbria – Abbie Gorman Abigail.Gorman@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

Lancs – Alex Hay Alex.Hay@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

Cheshire – Namitha Madhukumar Namitha.Madhukumar@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

All other areas contact the main Hub - NWNZHub@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

Join the NHS Forest and plant trees to save lives

Last year, the NHS Forest helped over 140 NHS sites to plant thousands of trees to improve people’s health and boost biodiversity. This year, the NHS Forest, led by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, is once again offering fully funded trees and expert tree-planting advice to NHS sites. The 2024-2025 tree-planting season starts this autumn, but expressing your interest early is recommended. This may be the last year this offer is available to NHS sites in its current form.

Apply for the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) 

The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme delivers. Performance improvements to existing plant and infrastructure to enable efficient decarbonisation. Under this scheme both revenue and capital funding are available.

Transitioning to centralised energy purchasing to find efficiencies for the NHS

There are currently 200 energy contracts in place across trusts in England, under different agreements, with varying value and purchasing strategies. Given this, NHS England has agreed, in partnership with Crown Commercial Service (CCS), to develop an NHS specific energy agreement under the CCS framework – Supply of Energy 2.  

NHS England has worked with CCS to shape an energy product specifically for the NHS. The NHS basket will shape our energy buying strategy.  This NHS unique basket contains four key service offers:  

1. A long-term, risk-based buying strategy which will allow the NHS to work as one to harness the greatest value, energy security and green energy  
2. Additional energy management support for every ICS  
3. A comprehensive bill validation service aimed at ensuring the NHS has been historically charged the correct amount for energy  
4. A full energy bureau service aimed at freeing up time for local energy managers to focus on efficiency projects, by validating and processing energy bills.