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Central Energy Efficiency Fund

What is the Central Energy Efficiency Fund?

The Central Energy Efficiency Fund was established in 1993 to provide financial support through grants for energy (and later carbon dioxide) saving measures which could not be financed from within Departmental budgets. The fund was later extended to the wider public sector estate in Northern Ireland.

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How Does it Operate?

Applications are invited each autumn, for implementation the following financial year. Proposed projects must meet certain eligibility criteria, including minimum capital cost and reasonable payback. As the level of financial support available is limited, all other avenues of funding must have been explored before a Central Fund application can be accepted. Applications will be assessed by the Public Sector Energy Working Group (PSEWG). For a full list of eligibility criteria and the application/assessment guidance view the Terms & Conditions for 2010/11.

Funding is limited and acceptance by the Department of an Application does not guarantee an offer will be made. We anticipate that £1 million will be available for the 2010/11 year.

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Am I Eligible?

The Fund is open to all Northern Ireland Departments and their offshoots such as Health Trusts, Education and Library Boards, District Councils and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs).

The principle criteria to be satisfied are outlined below, however organisations interested in making an Application to the Fund should refer to the full 2010/11 Terms & Conditions for all eligibility criteria –

  • The Applicant must be a public sector organisation in Northern Ireland;
  • Projects should demonstrate a reduction in energy consumption and/or carbon dioxide emissions;
  • Projects must have a minimum capital cost of £5,000, however smaller projects may be combined to reach this figure in limited circumstances as defined in the 2010/11 Terms & Conditions;
  • Grants are payable for the 20010/11 financial year only. Exceptions may be considered for larger projects where payments may be divided over two years by the PSEWG. Grants not spent or claimed during the 2010/11 year will not be carried forward;
  • Projects must be in a position to commence as soon as possible after 1 April 2010 and complete by March 2011 (except where 2 year projects are agreed by the PSEWG;
  • All required planning permissions, licences and statutory consents must be in place by 31 December 2009;
  • Any Grants offered apply only to the property and project defined in the Application. They may not be used for any other purpose and are not transferable; and
  • Applicants should be able to demonstrate a commitment to energy efficiency within their estates. This will be assessed by the return of energy usage figures to the Public Sector Energy Campaign (PSEC).

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How Do I Apply?

Applications are invited each autumn, for implementation the following financial year.

Applications should be made electronically using the CEEF 2010 program in accordance with the revised 2010/11 Terms & Conditions dated 16 November 2009. This program will automatically apply relevant parameters and eliminate unsuitable projects. The 2009/10 fund has now closed for applications, however the relevant Terms & Conditions may be viewed on the the PSEC Publications page.

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What Types of Projects are Funded?

Projects are funded under the following categories:

  • 001-BEMS/EMS/Boiler or Heating Controls/TRVs
  • 002-Refrigeration or Air Conditioning Controls
  • 003-Lighting Controls or Conversion to Low Energy Lighting
  • 004-Change of Fuel (Electricity>Oil>LPG>Nat Gas)
  • 005-Installation of CHP
  • 006-Point of Use Domestic Hot Water Heaters
  • 007-Boiler Plant Upgrading or Decentralisation
  • 008-Heat Recovery Including Destratification Fans
  • 009-Radiator Reflective Panels
  • 010-Roof Insulation
  • 011-Cavity Wall Insulation
  • 012-Pipe Insulation or Valve Covers
  • 013-Draughtproofing
  • 014-Double Glazing/Secondary Glazing
  • 015-Swimming Pool Covers
  • 016-Renewable Energy - Wind
  • 017-Renewable Energy - Hydro
  • 018-Renewable Energy - Biomass
  • 019-Renewable Energy - Solar Heat
  • 020-Renewable Energy - Photovoltaic
  • 021-Renewable Energy - Ground Source Heat Pump

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Who decides which projects are funded and how?

Applications to the CEEF are assessed by the Public Sector Energy Working Group (PSEWG). The PSEWG is independently chaired and comprised of representatives from a number of Departments, a member of the District Council Energy Managers' Forum and independent technical advisers.

Applications are assessed by the PSEWG in merit order according to each project's BCR score until the limit of funding is exhausted. A number of projects may be selected for a reserve list should any funded projects not proceed for any reason. Projects scoring a BCR below the threshold to be considered for the reserve list will not be assessed by the PSEWG.

In assessing Applications the PSEWG will consider for example, the viability of the technology; the current energy performance of the building according to the annual energy returns to PSEC; the project cost; current energy costs; alternative sources of funding; and potential savings. Applicants must therefore ensure their PSEC energy data returns are made by the given deadline. The PSEWG may seek further information from any Applicant or invite the Applicant to make a presentation on their project before a decision is made.

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If I Get Funding – What Next?

Projects should commence immediately upon acceptance of the Grant offer. Government procurement guidelines where applicable should be followed and effective project management should be used to deliver the project within the agreed timescale.

It is important to be able to demonstrate that Central Fund projects:

  • offer value for money; and
  • are cost effective in reducing energy consumption and/or the emission of carbon dioxide.

It is expected that local managers will wish, as a matter of good practice to evaluate all projects for which funding is provided and submission of bids will be taken as signifying agreement that such evaluations will be completed.

In addition, a number of projects will be identified for detailed monitoring over a period of at least 12 months will be required and a Post Project Evaulation (PPE) must be returned to the PSEWG. This will include all projects with a total capital cost of £50,000 or more and a representative sample of other projects funded. For further information on PPEs please refer to section 16 of the 2010/11 Terms & Conditions.

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Are there limits to the amount of funding I can bid for?

The CEEF is a limited fund. As of 16 November 2009 the CEEF for 2010/11 has been reduced from £2 million to £1 million. Public sector bodies can therefore make a bid of any value up to this limit; however, a maximum of 50% of the total project capital cost will be offered. The balance of funding may be met from within a public body's own funds or from another funding scheme or loan. The likely source of the balance of funding must be identified when the Application is submitted and confirmation will be sought by the Department before a formal offer is made.

Grant funding will be offered based on the BCR order of merit to projects considered by the PSEWG to comply with the Terms & Conditions. There is no limit to the number of Applications that may be submitted by each organisation; the fund is considered on a project-by-project basis.

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How many Applications were funded in 2009/10? Which organisations were successful?

In 2009/10, funding was offered to 35 projects. In addition, 4 projects were in receipt of 2nd year funding. Those organisations offered grants for new projects included:

North Eastern Education & Library Board
Western Education & Library Board
Southern Education & Library Board
Belfast Education & Library Board
Belfast HSC Trust
Northern HSC Trust
South Eastern HSC Trust
Newtownabbey Borough Council
Castlereagh Borough Council
Belfast City Council
University of Ulster
Queens University Belfast

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