Our story
Herefordshire Council's Marches Renewable Energy (MarRE) project provided an incentive for organisations in the Marches to install renewable technologies. The overall aims and objectives of the MarRE project were to develop new renewable energy projects; support and educate businesses, local authorities and communities to reduce CO2 emissions; and increase resilience through the promotion of energy efficiency measures.
The project provided an incentive for organisations in the Marches to install renewable technologies including local authorities, statutory and non-statutory public-funded organisations/bodies, higher and further education institutions, voluntary/community organisations, private sector companies, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations.
Technologies supported included wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal, hydrothermal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas and sewage treatment plant gas and biogas.
Grants were awarded at 50% of total costs. The total cost of projects ranged between £5,000 and £160,000 with the average £25,000 cost of an installation and the MarRE project was completed in 2022.
The key project activities were: inviting Expressions of Interest; governing Steering Group and project board meetings; grant applications; installing renewables; and marketing, publicity and case studies. A two-stage application process was developed to try to ensure a quick turn-around in the decision-making process (Expression of Interest and Full Application).
Key stakeholders involved in the promotion and delivery of the scheme included: Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Councils; The Marches Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP); Sustainability West Midlands; Marches Growth Hub(s); and renewable energy installers
The MarRE Project has been successful in delivering its primary goal to encourage the installation of renewable energy regeneration technologies (after the demise of the FiT scheme). The team put in place extremely efficient processes and systems, ensuring a very quick turnaround following project approval and claiming grant funding.
Our advice
The success of the MarRE project was demonstrated through the flexible and adaptable nature of the Project Team, thorough risk mitigation being in place, general momentum that was built and collective working established through the Project Steering Group and Board.
In reflecting upon factors which contributed to the success of their projects, beneficiaries made specific reference to having access to a Project Team that always made themselves available and provided valuable support.
Design of future funding bids might like to understand ways a broader range of renewable technologies could be supported. The intention of the grant scheme was that all renewables are eligible but due to the economics of renewables the scheme has supported mostly installation of solely solar PV.
A future project could engage a range of technical experts to help guide the development of individual projects. This would be particularly useful when comparing very different technologies.
Although the renewables technology installations have been mainly focused on solar PV, the MarRE project has uncovered and encouraged the appetite for low-carbon energy solutions across a range of organisations in the Marches. In this respect, the MarRE project has provided a good pilot project that could help to shape future initiatives.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the deployment of over 2MW of renewable installation; decreasing carbon emissions in the Marches; benefiting the renewable energy supply chain, in and around the Marches and in turn benefiting the skilled jobs market.
