Energising projects and support

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From Hull and East Yorkshire to Northumberland, the Hub is responsible for driving the delivery of more than 60 energy excellence projects worth over £300m.

Everything we do is geared towards increasing the number, quality and scale of local energy projects, working with public, private and voluntary organisations to benefit communities across the region.

Projects vary widely, and focus on things like:

Improving energy efficiency in buildings
Developing zero carbon transport infrastructure
Decentralising heat and power supply
Heating mine water
Innovating in public sector energy efficiency
Creating innovative power storage and supply
Investing in large scale housing retrofitting
Working with biofuels and hydrogen
Researching biobased and circular construction
Bringing people together through community energy schemes
Tackling fuel poverty
Supporting rural communities
Developing an Energy Skills Academy

Some of the exciting projects we’re currently working on include:

Managing a £52m domestic energy efficiency Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery programme for the region. This will allow local authorities to bid for funding to improve energy efficiency of low-income households in their area.
Delivering a Social Housing Decarbonisation Pilot project. We’re investigating ways in which housing associations could best be supported to access new government funding that will model the potential improvements required to improve EPC ratings across their properties.
Delivering Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding, a central government grant designed to assist local government bodies in financing decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures in public sector buildings.
Investigating new projects which would require limited amounts of development funding, particularly those which could be replicated across our region.

There has never been a more important time to work in energy efficiency. The government is investing heavily in Net Zero and the ‘Green Recovery’. Councils, big business, SMEs, start-ups, universities, colleges, housing providers, transport providers, everyone – we all have a part to play.

Independent evaluation of North East and Yorkshire retrofit activities

The Hub has published an independent evaluation of five years of retrofit activity in the North East and Yorkshire, setting out how local areas can deliver the most successful retrofit projects.

The evaluation – undertaken by analysts Steer – was commissioned by the Hub to give stakeholders a better understanding of project delivery on the ground and set out the lessons learnt after five years of retrofit programmes.

Findings include:

The Hub was “proactive in providing support and acted as a critical friend (to local authorities and housing providers)…. (offering) excellent support”
“Hands on” but “resource intensive” engagement with communities, such as door-knocking and in-person events, are “more impactful”.
Being tidy and respectful of resident’s houses is “an important mark of quality” and interactions with staff and contractors is key.
There is a high level of household interest in solar PV where “beneficiaries tend to be well-informed of the benefits” – but other technologies, namely Air Source Heat Pumps and wall insulation “can be more challenging to explain” and there can be “high drop out rates if beneficiaries are not informed early of the extent of works”.

The report also sets out a series of recommendations for how organisations can deliver the most impactful retrofit programmes.

NEY NZH Retrofit Activity Process Evaluation Final Report

Energising projects and support

Some of the exciting projects we’re currently working on include:

Independent evaluation of North East and Yorkshire retrofit activities

Check out the latest funding opportunities available and speak to our contact in your area

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