Carbon Offsetting Fund

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What is the Carbon Offsetting Fund?

The carbon offset contribution is collected through the Section 106 process, and these funds are ring-fenced to be spent on carbon-reduction projects.

Applicants are required to contribute to the Council’s carbon offset fund where they have demonstrated that net zero carbon cannot be achieved through the proposed design of the development.

The Council requires applicants to calculate their expected carbon emissions, and can contribute to the carbon offset fund accordingly


What projects will the funding be allocated toward?

Carbon offset funding may be allocated to projects that align with RBWM’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Projects that target energy efficiency will be considered a priority as these can have a wide range of benefits. Examples of potential projects are shown below:

• Building fabric upgrade(s) to increase energy efficiency

• Upgrades to sustainable and “future-proof” technology (renewable energy, electric vehicle charging etc)

• Technology and measures to improve metering, monitoring, and operation of utility usage

• Infrastructure or support for low carbon heat networks


What are the funding requirements?

Essential requirements:

• Projects must align with RBWM’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy and be included in the councils carbon reduction scope.

• Projects must deliver tangible, quantifiable, and transparent carbon savings and support RBWM’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

• Projects should aim to deliver cost-effective carbon savings (assessed on the carbon cost effectiveness which is the total cost of the bid against the expected lifetime carbon savings).

• Projects should demonstrate additionality. The project would not be possible without Carbon Offset Fund payment.

• Any co-funding used with the Carbon Offset Fund allocation must not hinder, and should comply, with the terms of the Carbon Offset Fund.

• Projects should be ready to commence upon confirmation of funding approval.

• Project leads should keep the Carbon Offset Fund Officer informed on a regular basis of any concerns, risks, failures, challenges, changes of scope and changes to funding required from application stage through to post project monitoring.

• Funding cannot be used to simply comply with legislation.

Desirable requirements:

• Wider social, environmental or economic benefits to this project that align with the councils Corporate Plan.

• The Carbon Offset Fund can provide funding for hard measures (i.e. a physical asset which will lead to carbon savings) and soft measures (i.e. projects that will enable carbon reductions in the future – such as feasibility studies, engagement and behavioural activities).

• Soft measures must reasonably expect to deliver carbon savings alongside, or as a result, of any successful bid. Because the carbon saving potential of soft measures carry a higher risk to success, projects focusing on soft measures may be monitored more strictly to ensure funding renders carbon savings. How carbon savings will be achieved should be demonstrated in the application along with an overview of any potential risks or challenges to success.

Carbon offset funds can be used to support all costs relating to a carbon saving project, including:

• capital costs (e.g. the cost of the physical measure or activity)

• core costs (e.g. staff, office costs)

• project costs (e.g. venue hire, project worker)

It should be taken into consideration that the Sustainability and Climate Change team will retain 10% of the funding allocated to administer the fund and to provide support to the project through monitoring and reporting.


What is the Carbon Offsetting Fund?

The carbon offset contribution is collected through the Section 106 process, and these funds are ring-fenced to be spent on carbon-reduction projects.

Applicants are required to contribute to the Council’s carbon offset fund where they have demonstrated that net zero carbon cannot be achieved through the proposed design of the development.

The Council requires applicants to calculate their expected carbon emissions, and can contribute to the carbon offset fund accordingly


What projects will the funding be allocated toward?

Carbon offset funding may be allocated to projects that align with RBWM’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Projects that target energy efficiency will be considered a priority as these can have a wide range of benefits. Examples of potential projects are shown below:

• Building fabric upgrade(s) to increase energy efficiency

• Upgrades to sustainable and “future-proof” technology (renewable energy, electric vehicle charging etc)

• Technology and measures to improve metering, monitoring, and operation of utility usage

• Infrastructure or support for low carbon heat networks


What are the funding requirements?

Essential requirements:

• Projects must align with RBWM’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy and be included in the councils carbon reduction scope.

• Projects must deliver tangible, quantifiable, and transparent carbon savings and support RBWM’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

• Projects should aim to deliver cost-effective carbon savings (assessed on the carbon cost effectiveness which is the total cost of the bid against the expected lifetime carbon savings).

• Projects should demonstrate additionality. The project would not be possible without Carbon Offset Fund payment.

• Any co-funding used with the Carbon Offset Fund allocation must not hinder, and should comply, with the terms of the Carbon Offset Fund.

• Projects should be ready to commence upon confirmation of funding approval.

• Project leads should keep the Carbon Offset Fund Officer informed on a regular basis of any concerns, risks, failures, challenges, changes of scope and changes to funding required from application stage through to post project monitoring.

• Funding cannot be used to simply comply with legislation.

Desirable requirements:

• Wider social, environmental or economic benefits to this project that align with the councils Corporate Plan.

• The Carbon Offset Fund can provide funding for hard measures (i.e. a physical asset which will lead to carbon savings) and soft measures (i.e. projects that will enable carbon reductions in the future – such as feasibility studies, engagement and behavioural activities).

• Soft measures must reasonably expect to deliver carbon savings alongside, or as a result, of any successful bid. Because the carbon saving potential of soft measures carry a higher risk to success, projects focusing on soft measures may be monitored more strictly to ensure funding renders carbon savings. How carbon savings will be achieved should be demonstrated in the application along with an overview of any potential risks or challenges to success.

Carbon offset funds can be used to support all costs relating to a carbon saving project, including:

• capital costs (e.g. the cost of the physical measure or activity)

• core costs (e.g. staff, office costs)

• project costs (e.g. venue hire, project worker)

It should be taken into consideration that the Sustainability and Climate Change team will retain 10% of the funding allocated to administer the fund and to provide support to the project through monitoring and reporting.


Page published: 07 Aug 2024, 03:48 PM