By Isabella Kaminski

14 UK projects have applied for funding from the European Union’s New Entrant Reserve (NER) scheme, which is worth between €4.5 billion and €9bn, to support renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects across the European Union.

Of the 14 applications received, five were for renewable energy and 9 were for CCS projects. Three of the renewable projects are tidal stream projects based in Scotland, one is a wave project in Scotland and one is an offshore wind project based in the North-East of England.

The UK Government has until 9 May to assess the applications against the NER and UK criteria and decide which to put forward to the European Investment Bank for further consideration.

Charles Hendry, UK Energy Minister, says: “The strong level of interest received for CCS projects in particular is heartening – it shows that UK industry is keen to move forward in the development of CCS and confirms the lead that the UK is taking in this critical technology.”