The Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans for energy-efficiency projects. Loans of between £3,000 and £100,000, depending on the amount and type of energy saved, are available.  The loans are government funded and unsecured and multiple loans are available up to a maximum of £100,000.

Installation and commissioning costs can be included, not just the capital cost of the equipment. The objective is for the energy savings to cover the cost of the project over the course of the loan, hence the loan amount being dependent on CO2 savings.

Most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are eligible.  Larger companies may still be eligible if they or their parent company do not qualify for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, i.e. if their half-hourly metered electricity consumption is below 6,000MWh per year (which equates to an annual bill of around £500,000).  

For futher information visit  www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans.

*Subject to eligibility. Regional variations apply.