Low Carbon SMEs

Aston University is delivering a project which seeks to assist small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce their energy use. The initiative is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).      

We offer free expert advice and grant support to develop holistic energy efficiency solutions that lead to higher productivity and overall business success. The Low Carbon SMEs project uses university academics to provide short and long term support to SMEs in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area. Projects leading to a reduction in energy consumption, carbon emissions and process inefficiencies within high energy using organisations are eligible for support.

• Enquire today and receive valuable support, including:
• A free diagnostic evaluating your sites’ energy use and process efficiencies
• A grant of up to £6000, the value of which SMEs will be required to match
• One to one advice and innovation support from Aston University academics and industry specialists
• Sector specific workshops

Suitable business types

The project aims to support all manufacturing sectors but particularly seeks to work with high energy users such as:

• Chemical engineering
• Foundries
• Metal cutting
• Construction
• Logistics
• Manufacture of paint
• Cement
• Petrochemicals
• Varnishes and similar coating
• Printing ink and mastics. 
• Restaurants

Examples of eligible activities:

• Replacement of specific machine and equipment for achieving energy efficiency  
• Replacement of boiler and furnace
• Altering conversion technology (e.g. equipment, machineries, tools etc.)
• Project cost for installing solar and/ or biomass power energy sources
• Machine layout alteration for efficient material flow
• Installing telematics for monitoring and controlling fuel consumption
• Installing telematics for monitoring and controlling refurbished engine health during operations so as to enhance life of the engine and prevent breakdown  
• Software and hardware for energy efficiency and carbon footprint calculations
• Introducing new catalyst in the chemical process to enhance energy efficiency  
• Analysing feasibility of adopting renewable sources of energy 
• Software and hardware installation for logistics optimisation 
• Software and hardware for inventory management 
• Software and hardware for forecasting           
• ERP implementation for process reengineering  
• Other IT solutions for process optimisation 
• Technical analysis for adopting energy efficiency
• Product and process redesign with energy efficiency.

To find out more information, please see the website www.smelowcarbon.co.uk or email smelowcarbon@aston.ac.uk