Please note: the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund is currently closed for applications
Hutt City Council has announced the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund, which when granted will go towards up to 50% co-funding of a project that will result in a permanent step-change in emissions reduction.
Open now, the Fund is open to any eligible legal entity such as a business, charity, incorporated society or trust, provided that the project is being implemented in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt.
The first five successful applicants are:
- He Puāwai Trust - for an electric van to transport locally produced food across the city - this will replace the use of a diesel ute for deliveries.
- Rudolf Steiner School Trust - for the replacement of single glazing with double glazing to reduce their requirements for heating.
- Wesley (Wellington Misson Incorporated) Rātā Village in Naenae - for replacing a petrol vehicle with an electric vehicle for their staff and residents to use.
- Y Central - for installation of LED lighting in their managed accommodation facilities.
- Youth Inspire - for the purchase of an electric vehicle to provide free driving lessons to rangatahi as part of their programme of helping youth access employment opportunities.
About the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund
This fund was established to accelerate progress towards a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and the city becoming net zero by 2050.
Hutt City Council earns carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme for forests in some of its reserves. The units can be sold and the revenue can be used to invest in carbon reduction opportunities. To ensure that the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund is cost neutral to Council, the financial envelope of the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund for each round is based on the number of credits earned in the previous year.
To be successful, applicants must demonstrate there will be a permanent emissions reduction from their proposed project.
Here are the documents you'll need:
Eligibility criteria
You must:
- Be an eligible legal entity. This could be a business, club, trust or other legal entity
- Propose a project that would result in a permanent emissions reduction in Lower Hutt
Available funding
A total of $160,000.00 will be available for co-funding in Round #1 (2024) with a maximum of $40,000.00 of co-funding per applicant.
What we fund
In principle, the Fund is open to any Project, provided that:
- It aligns with the Fund objectives of producing the largest carbon reduction benefits based on a range of criteria
- It involves the implementation of the Project in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt
- Any co-funding requested is only for the additional part or incremental cost of the Project, relative to business as usual
- Any technologies involved meet relevant regulatory requirements
What we don’t fund
- Projects involving the displacement of one fossil fuel by another, or those focused on transitional technologies (e.g. hybrid vehicles)
- Research and development, or the implementation of technologies or infrastructure that are not yet commercially available (as EECA has a Technology Demonstration Fund for this purpose)
- Projects involving the installation of insulation or heaters in private homes (as relevant support is available through EECA’s Warmer Kiwi Homes programme)
- Projects that already receive funding for the same purpose from another public investment fund
How to apply
Fill in our Response form here. If you have any questions, please email LCAfund@huttcity.govt.nz
More information
In the 2021/22 financial year, Lower Hutt emissions were reported to be 475,520 tCO2-e, with transport emissions making up half of this and stationary energy making up another 30%. While the Council is working hard on reducing its own emissions it also wants to support those across the city to make reductions.
