Solar Power NI are ecstatic to announce that the Sport NI Renewable Energy Fund has received a whopping £1 million infusion from the National Lottery for 2023/24! This game-changing move is all about supercharging sports clubs in Northern Ireland and pushing them towards a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future.
What is the Sport NI Renewable Energy Fund?
The Sport NI fund has been set up to help sports clubs strive for a more sustainable future. The key objectives are:
- To reduce the environmental footprint of sports clubs.
- To reduce carbon emissions at sports clubs.
- To contribute to a more sustainable sports club network.
- To create a ‘greener’ sports club sector.
- To save on utility bills and reduce costs, enabling sports clubs to redirect resources back into their clubs/sport.
What does the Sport NI fund mean for me?
If you have a sports club in NI, you’re likely envisioning a greener, eco-friendly future for your sports club. With the continuous growing costs of energy, particularly in the commercial sector, many sports clubs that rely on indoor lighting, floodlights, and warm showers are really starting to struggle to keep the lights on. The Sport NI fund will help sports clubs receive funding towards more sustainable means. Switching to solar power, for example, is proven to reduce energy bills as well as aiding with your carbon footprint.
How will the project work?
In the year 2023/24, the Renewable Energy Fund will be introduced as a ‘trial run’. This ‘trial’ will not involve a scoring system, and no applications will be evaluated. The main aim of this trial run is to educate Sport NI about different energy solutions and their effects, and to inform future iterations of the Renewable Energy Fund, based on available funds.
Completing the application form is quick, taking just 1-2 minutes. Entries for this trial run will be chosen randomly, as detailed in our guidelines, and the selected ones will move forward to project implementation. This programme unfolds in two primary phases:
The second stage of the project is ‘Project Development’
Here, applicants need to hire an energy specialist to perform a ‘building energy assessment’ pinpointing potential energy projects. The maximum value for this phase is set at £3,000.
The final stage of the project is ‘Project Implementation’
In this phase, applicants will engage vendors/contractors to complete the installation of the chosen energy project. The upper limit for this stage is £30,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only those who own or operate sports facilities need apply. Your sports club must be affiliated with a Sport Northern Ireland-recognised governing body of sport.
What types of project can I apply for?
Sport NI is keen on promoting these energy projects for sports clubs:
- Solar Energy Setups (including related equipment).
- Air Source Heating Mechanisms (and related gear).
- Ground Source Heating Mechanisms (and associated devices).
- Eco-Friendly Water Recycling Solutions.
- Enhanced Floodlighting (focusing on LED bulb replacements and grid connectivity).
If your club’s energy evaluation suggests other solutions, and their advantages are well-presented, Sport NI might consider those alternatives also.
How do I apply?
If you feel you are eligible for this project and would like to help your sports club receive greener and cleaner energy, you can apply online here.
