Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) Phase 3: Spring 2024 - How to apply
Phase 3 of the IETF provides grant funding for feasibility and engineering studies, and for the deployment of industrial energy efficiency and deep decarbonisation projects.
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Documents
Details
IETF Phase 3: Spring 2024 will allocate grant funding for the following project types:
- studies - feasibility and engineering studies to enable companies to investigate identified energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects prior to making an investment decision
- energy efficiency - deployment of technologies to reduce industrial energy consumption
- decarbonisation - deployment of technologies to achieve industrial emissions savings
The IETF Phase 3 budget is £185 million overall. This will be allocated across 2 competition windows in 2024. We will allocate funding to the highest quality applications that are submitted in the first window, with any remaining budget allocated in the second window.
How to apply
The Spring 2024 competition runs from Monday 29 January to Friday 19 April 2024. To apply:
- read the guidance document for further information about the competition
- register to apply. Once you have submitted the registration form, you will receive a password and link to the online application forms hosted by SmartSurvey
- submit your IETF application forms by 3pm, Friday 19 April 2024
Lead applicants must submit:
- one Applicant Details form
- a further application form for each proposal you want to apply for during this competition window
We have provided Word versions of the application forms here so you can collaborate on draft applications in advance. If you do create an offline version of the application form, please make sure you have enough time to upload your answers to SmartSurvey ahead of the deadline. You must not submit the Word versions of forms.
- We will only accept applications submitted via SmartSurvey.
- We will not accept applications after the deadline.
Eligibility
The Phase 3: Spring 2024 competition is open to businesses of any size with an eligible site in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Some IETF funding rules may differ for businesses based in Northern Ireland.
If your site is based in Scotland, please refer to the range of support offered by the Scottish Government. Contact SIETF@gov.scot for more information.
Changes in IETF Phase 3 from previous phases include:
- sector scope has been expanded to include:
- controlled environment horticulture activities
- industrial laundries
- textile renting facilities
- coal mining activities are no longer eligible for IETF funding
- companies registered in Scotland but with industrial sites in England, Wales or Northern Ireland are able to apply to the IETF, providing they meet other eligibility requirements
- the minimum grant threshold has been lowered from £100,000 to £75,000 for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) only, and the SME application process will be simplified
- deployment project applicants requesting a grant of £5 million or above must submit a feasibility study or engineering study to support their application
The government response to the recent IETF Phase 3 consultation provides more detail of changes to the IETF.
Eligible lead applicants
Your business must operate an existing site which falls into one of the following SIC codes:
| Eligible industrial processes | SIC codes |
|---|---|
| Mining and quarrying (*1) | 07100 through to 08990; and 09900 |
| Manufacturing | 10000 through to 33200 |
| Recovery and recycling of materials | 383208 (*2) |
| Data centre | 63110 |
| Industrial Laundries (*3) | 96010 |
| Controlled Environment Horticulture (CEH) (*4) | 1110, 1130, 1190, 1240, 1250, 1280, 1290, 1300, 1610 |
Notes
(*1): This excludes activities related to the extraction of gas or petroleum. This also excludes coal and lignite mining operations.
(*2): Activities associated with producing energy from waste are not eligible. Further details are provided in the technical eligibility section.
(*3): This excludes laundrettes and other domestic-focused activities.
(*4): Activities supporting crops for human food consumption, where these are grown in indoor production systems with the technology to precisely control multiple environmental parameters such as greenhouses, vertical farms/ plant factories. Wider agricultural or ornamental horticulture activities such as forestry, fishing, flower production, growing of medicinal plants, pastoral farming and arable farming (outside of controlled indoor environments), and low-tech protected environment horticulture (for example polytunnels) are not eligible for support from the IETF.
Please check the SIC code you were allocated at the time of registering at Companies House. If the parent company SIC Code does not reflect the activity carried out at your site, for example where a data centre is owned by a telecoms company, you may still be eligible.
The guidance document provides more detail on the eligibility criteria. You can also contact us about eligibility at ietf@energysecurity.gov.uk: type ‘Eligibility screening assessment request’ as the subject line of the email. We offer a free eligibility screening service and can provide answers to questions about the application process.
Minimum and maximum thresholds
The funding will be awarded as grants towards the total costs of successful proposals. Your proposal must fall within the stated minimum and maximum award thresholds in this table. Unless otherwise specified, thresholds refer to the minimum and maximum grant that you can apply for.
| Funding applied for | Minimum threshold per application | Maximum threshold per project |
|---|---|---|
| Energy efficiency deployment projects | £75,000 (SMEs) £100,000 (large companies) |
£14 million |
| Deep decarbonisation deployment projects | £75,000 (SMEs) £100,000 (large companies) |
£30 million |
| Engineering studies | £50,000 (total eligible cost) | £14 million |
| Feasibility studies | £30,000 (total eligible cost) | £7 million |
Get in touch
If you need more information about Phase 3 of the IETF, including questions about the application process or portal, please contact the DESNZ IETF team at ietf@energysecurity.gov.uk.
Stakeholder events and clinics
We run events and clinics throughout the competition window to inform businesses about the scope of the competitions, eligibility criteria and the application process. These are also opportunities for you to speak to us directly about potential projects and applications for funding:
- register for our fortnightly IETF stakeholder clinics, Tuesday 13 February – Tuesday 16 April, 10.00 - 11.00
- register for our in-person event, the IETF Technology Showcase, Manchester, Thursday 21 March, 10.00-15.00
Other useful sources
- Case studies of Phase 1 and 2 competition winners
- listen to our IETF podcast series with DESNZ officials, competition winners, and industry experts
- watch our IETF winners videos to see projects funded by the IETF in Phases 1 and 2
Updates to this page
Last updated 7 February 2024 + show all updates
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Added registration link for the in-person IETF Technology Showcase event, Manchester, Thursday 21 March, 10.00-15.00.
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IETF Phase 3: Spring 2024 now open to applications.
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First published.