EU Funding for Green Energy

A new EU fund will encourage renewable energy and efficient energy projects in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

The fund is valued at £4.5 million (€6.8 million) and is aimed at community groups, community businesses, small to medium sized businesses (SMEs), farmers, the tourism sector, public and voluntary organisations, and individuals operating energy projects at a local level.

The scheme runs until 2008 and will help to reduce the decline in fossil fuels as well as contributing to the development of greener energy supplies. Funding will be awarded to projects that demonstrate innovative renewable energy/energy efficiency solutions using technology such as wind energy, solar power, hydropower, biomass and efficient heating and lighting systems. Projects must also demonstrate best practise, the potential for replication and must involved cross-border partnership.

The fund has been set up through the EU Programme INTERREG IIIA which targets disadvantaged border areas in the EU and covers all of Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland.

It is being implemented by jointly by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (NI) and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (RoI).

The ‘call for applicants’ for first round funding runs between 24 February 2003-6 May 2003. Application forms are available at www.eugrants.org by clicking on "Procedures". For a leaflet about the Measure visit www.dcmnr.ie or contact Jim Doran on 028 9052 9516 to request a hard copy.