North West Net Zero Hub

Created by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in 2018, the North West Net Zero Hub is one of five Local Net Zero Hubs providing free strategic and technical support to local authorities, public sector organisations, and community groups in England. We take net zero projects from the earliest stages of feasibility to investment and delivery. The Hubs’ objectives in providing this support are to: • Increase the number, quality, and scale of local net zero projects. • Enable local areas to attract private or public finance for decarbonisation projects. • Raise awareness of the opportunity for, and benefits of, local investment. • Support regional co-ordination and collaboration between local partners and share local learning. North West Net Zero Hub delivery includes: • Supporting businesses to understand heat decarbonisation options including support for installation of commercial heat pumps. • Supporting homeowners, schools and other public organisations to invest in solar power. • Assisting the Net Zero North West Cluster Plan, which identifies a £30bn investment opportunity anchored by the Hynet Track 1 Industrial Cluster. • Supporting skills and supply chain development and best practice and procurement of local government and social housing programmes of over £300m. • Supporting community-led renewable energy, energy demand reduction, and energy supply projects through the Community Energy Fund. • Providing capacity support for local authorities to make successful applications to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, helping them make their own buildings easier, greener, and cheaper to heat and power. • Administering the North West's Local Energy Advice Demonstrator programme, piloting innovative ways of providing energy advice to hard-to-reach communities and for local people who live in hard-to-treat homes. • Delivering a Retrofit Skills Pilot to develop green careers in the region.