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Companies developing cutting edge low carbon energy projects in generation, efficiency and storage - such as capturing carbon emissions or turning buildings into power stations - have the chance to bid for an extra 拢5 million of funding in the fourth round of the Government鈥檚 Energy Entrepreneurs鈥� Fund (EEF).

Today also sees 19 projects being awarded a share of the 拢9 million available through the third phase of the Fund. They include renewable generation technologies, efficient engines and vehicles, energy management and storage solutions.

The extra funding announced today comes on top of 拢35 million already awarded to innovation projects through the previous three phases of the EEF, which helps small and medium sized businesses, including start-ups, bring a range of new and innovative low carbon products to market.

Half of the new money in the latest round will be prioritised for Carbon Capture and Storage, the process of capturing millions of tonnes of CO2 from power stations and industrial facilities, and storing the CO2 offshore, deep under the sea bed. The UK is leading Europe with two commercial-scale projects under development. Without CCS, decarbonising the energy system will be up to 拢40 billion more expensive per year.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Amber Rudd said:

鈥淎s the nation that is leading the way in tackling climate change, it is important that we support small and medium sized businesses get their innovative energy projects off the ground.

鈥淲e will see the benefits in terms of increased energy security and affordable, low carbon electricity 鈥� Carbon Capture and Storage for example could be one of the most cost effective ways to decarbonise our future energy system.鈥�

Through EEF grants received so far, 70 businesses have been able to create or support an estimated 290 jobs and stimulate 拢26.6 million of private sector investment. Private investors have provided a further 拢10.2 million of funding to date.

Highly efficient lighting

Fern Howard, a leading British manufacturer of lighting products, has won funding to develop a highly energy efficient LED (light-emitting diode) light which can reduce energy requirements for lighting by at least 33% compared to the most energy efficient lighting systems currently available. A priority market for Fern Howard are housing associations, which could reduce their CO2 emissions by 76% if they replace their exterior lights with the LEDs under development.

Peter Scott, Group CEO of Fern Howard, said:

鈥淟arge, technical projects are traditionally hard for SMEs to undertake and impossible to fund, and the DECC process has been highly supportive, providing essential funding not available from any other sources.

鈥淎s a result of the grant we have been able to save at least 36 jobs 鈥� that鈥檚 over half of our workforce. We forecast that we will grow 25-35% for the next three years and expect employment to increase to around 90 in 2016. In addition, we expect our exports to increase to account for 25% of our total sales.鈥�

Notes to editors

• The EEF was a 拢35 million fund announced in April 2012 to help bring a range of new and innovative low carbon products to market. The scheme particularly aims to assist small and medium sized enterprises, including start-ups, and those companies that are selected can receive additional funding for incubation support 鈥� but does not rule out collaborations with larger companies.

• Funding for projects is available only for Financial Year 2015/16. Successful projects will be awarded grants in spring 2015.

• Unlike previous phases, Phase 4 of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund will see a specific focus on CCS because this innovative technology could enable us to decarbonise our future energy system in the most cost effective way. Fossil-fuel power plants and large energy-intensive industries are amongst the largest emitters of CO2 both in the UK and globally.

• The CCS element builds on the success of the 2012 拢20m CCS Innovation Competition to reduce the costs of CCS by developing novel, more efficient, lower cost technologies, and developing the supply chain to reach our long term goal of cost competitive CCS in the 2020s. According to analysis by the Energy Technologies Institute, without CCS, decarbonising the energy system will be up to 拢40 billion more expensive per year.