Sustainable business, communities and charities

Solar PV and Battery Grant for Businesses

Apply for a grant to help your organisation install solar panels and/or a battery system that can help your business:

• reduce energy bills and protect against rising energy costs
• cut carbon emissions and improve environmental performance
• increase energy independence and resilience

As part of the council’s work to support the achievement of net zero emissions by 2045 for the district, we are committed to supporting local businesses to reduce their environmental impact.

About the grant

The Solar PV and Battery Grant aims to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) located in Three Rivers District to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions through the installation of solar panels and/or battery systems to their buildings.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until either the available funding is fully allocated, or the deadline of 31 December 2026 is reached.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available for eligible SMEs to install solar panels and/or a battery system to their business premises. At least 75% of the total value of the installation cost must be funded by the SME.

Please note: this is a grant and does not need to be repaid. However, the grants are paid retrospectively, this means if you are successful in securing a grant, you must purchase and complete your project before claiming the funding you have been awarded.

Eligibility criteria

You can apply for a grant if your business meets the criteria below.

All applicant businesses must:

• Have a physical trading address within Three Rivers District Council Local Authority Area – this does not include businesses run out of someone’s home.
• Operate from business premises.
• Meet the UK Government’s definition of an SME (have fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than £44 million or a balance sheet total less than or equal to £38 million).
• Be able to evidence trading activity.
• Fall into one of the following categories: registered as a limited company; a sole trader; or a partnership, a Community Interest Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Cooperative or Community Benefit Society.
• Be able to demonstrate the business has sufficient financial resources available to cash flow the project and provide the co-funding required.
• Represent the applicant’s primary source of income.
• Be registered either on Companies House or with HMRC and have a Unique Tax Reference Number.
• Have a Business Rates number for the property benefitting from the funding.
• Have written consent from the landlord of the commercial premises to install solar panels and/or a battery system.

For the full Business Solar and Battery Grant Terms and Conditions, please read the document below:

Business Solar and Battery Grant Terms and Conditions (PDF)

How to apply

If you think your business is eligible for the Solar PV and Battery Grant, please complete the application form:

Please note before you apply:

• All applicants will need to obtain and upload copies of two quotes from different installers for the Solar PV and/or battery system you are applying for grant funding for, to the application form.
• If your organisation does not own the property you are applying for a grant for, you will also need to provide proof that your organisation has obtained permission from your landlord to install solar panels and/or a battery system to the building, as part of the application.

How we will assess your application

The council will assess all applications against standard evaluation criteria and will approve applications from eligible SMEs with viable applications.

Funding available is limited, so the grant will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis to eligible SMEs with viable applications.

If the demand for the grant is high, proposals for solar panels and/or battery projects that deliver the highest carbon emissions reductions and energy storage will be viewed more favourably.

If your business received funding under the council’s UKSPF Business Energy Efficiency Grant 2024-25 you are allowed to apply to the Solar PV and Battery Grant 2026, providing your business did not install solar panels and/or a battery under the UKSPF 2024-25 grant.

Grant Terms and Conditions

• Grant funding available for buildings located in Three Rivers District used for commercial purposes by SMEs only.
• The Grant is not available to temporary buildings (used for 2 years or less), or buildings due to be demolished by the seller or landlord, or buildings that have obtained or applied for planning permission to demolish it.
• The grant must be spent on new investment and cannot cover any costs already incurred.
• Grant-funded solar panels and/or batteries must be installed by MCS accredited installers (Home - MCS).
• SMEs must ensure their grant-funded solar panels and/or battery system is installed within 6 months of signing your Grant Offer Letter. If District Network Operator (DNO) connections are required, this could delay the project by up to 9 weeks, in which case, the council will apply flexibility to the installation completion deadline at its discretion.
• Whilst most solar panel installations on business premises are considered permitted development (i.e. automatically granted planning permission by the General Permitted Development Order 2015 (as amended)), applicants are strongly encouraged to seek professional planning advice as to whether their project requires planning permission or Prior Approval from the council.
  If your business is located within a conservation area and / or operates from a listed building, both planning permission and listed building consent may be required.
  Applicants can submit a Certificate of Lawfulness Application if they wish to obtain formal confirmation that the works do not require express planning permission from the council.
  The council will not cover any costs associated with a business applying for planning permission for a measure part-funded by this grant. If planning permission is required, a planning decision can take up to 6 weeks, and the council will apply flexibility to the installation completion deadline at its discretion. For further information about whether permission is required see: Do you need permission? - Planning Portal.
• All applications must take into consideration how the activity will deliver in line with UK subsidy control requirements. If the organisation is likely to receive more than £315,000 in grants over a three-year period it may not be eligible.
• Businesses in financial difficulty, such as collective insolvency, are not eligible for the grant.

Contact

You can contact us by email at: climate.change@threerivers.gov.uk if you have any questions. Please include your business name and the address of your premises within Three Rivers District in your email.

Privacy Notice

Please find the Privacy Notice for the SME Solar PV and Battery Grant here:

Privacy Notice for Solar PV & Battery Grant 2026 (PDF)

Page updated: February 2026

Business Energy

Businesses Have Your Say: Your Energy, Your Future.

As part of a national effort to move towards cleaner, greener energy, Three Rivers District Council is working with local businesses like yours to understand how energy is currently used – and what’s needed in the future to keep businesses powered and competitive.

This is part of a Local Energy Plan being developed alongside work being completed for UK Power Networks (the District Network Operator) to help identify where the electricity grid needs upgrades to support local business needs – such as electric vehicles, solar panels, air conditioning or cooling, and energy-efficient buildings.

The Three Rivers District Council Energy Plan, and work with UK Power Networks seeks to ensure homes, public buildings, and your business can access reliable, affordable energy while supporting business growth, sustainability goals, and net-zero targets.

Why your input matters: 

Local businesses power our economy – and each one has unique energy needs. Whether you’re already making energy upgrades, planning to reduce costs, or simply keeping your operations running, your input is vital. It will help us:

• Understand what’s needed to support you
• Make the case for local infrastructure investment
• Unlock funding, grants, and business support

Sector Sustainability Guides

Please see our Sector Sustainability Guides below:

Charity Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.7MB)

Construction Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.7MB)

Healthcare Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.7MB)

Hospitality Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.8MB)

Manufacturing and Production Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.7MB)

Professional Services Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.7MB)

Wholesale Distribution Sector Sustainability Guide (PDF 1.8MB)

Sustainability Guide (PDF 2.6MB)

Community support

The Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust provide advice and support to communities and businesses, enabling them to play their part in building a sustainable, energy efficient future.

Three Rivers Sustainability Fund

The Three Rivers Sustainability Fund in partnership with Watford & Three Rivers Trust provides funds of up to £1,650 for projects that seek to reduce, mitigate or help us adapt to the impact of climate change and enhance sustainability in the district.

The Sustainability Fund is open to applications from voluntary sector organisations in the district for projects that:

• encourage reducing, reusing and recycling waste within the district
• promote sustainability
• address the impact of climate change on our communities
• increase biodiversity and rewilding
• reduce energy use
• measure carbon emissions to inform climate change action plans and help organisations carry out such plans
• reduce littering and the use of single-use plastics
• lower water consumption
• help prevent the pollution of waterways

See who has been accepted for funding (PDF)

How to apply

To apply, email Watford & Three Rivers Trust at cvs@w3rt.org to request an application form.

Applications are considered on an ongoing basis.

Sustainable Hertfordshire Fund

The Sustainable Hertfordshire Fund from Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Community Foundation and Crowdfunder offers to match funds of up to 50% of your crowdfunding target (up to a maximum of £5,000) for community projects that improve sustainability in Hertfordshire.

Projects eligible for funding from the Sustainable Hertfordshire Fund must be local to Hertfordshire and support Hertfordshire County Council's ambitions to:

• become a net zero county before 2050
• create communities ready for future climates
• improve wildlife across the county by 20% by 2050
• provide access to clean air for all by 2030

For full eligibility and to apply for the fund, go to Crowdfunder.

Climate and Sustainability Organisations working in Three Rivers

Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership(HCCSP) - The council is a member of this partnership. It comprises the ten local authorities in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council, and the Hertfordshire Futures. The partnership aims to share information, coordinate, and influence solutions, and bring forward proposals for joint interventions around climate change and sustainability across Hertfordshire.

Herts Waste Partnership - The Hertfordshire Waste Partnership (HWP) brings together the ten borough and district councils and the county council as the waste disposal authority. It works to reduce waste and increase recycling across Hertfordshire through a range of projects and collaborations. 

Grand Union Community Energy(GUCE) - Grand Union Community Energy  is a non-profit community energy cooperative based in South West Hertfordshire. Established to improve community resilience to increasing energy costs and climate change, by facilitating community-funded renewable energy projects and delivering local energy reduction initiatives such as Transition Streets.

The National Energy Foundation – is a non-profit that advocates for the alleviation of fuel poverty and the importance of sustainable housing for public health and climate change mitigation. They also provide free support and advice to residents on energy efficiency and domestic retrofit via their Better Housing Better Health helpline.

Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust - The leading voice for wildlife conservation across the area, taking practical action every day to help wildlife flourish.

Sustainable Three Rivers- Founded by a group of local residents to help people in Three Rivers to make lifestyle changes to protect the planet; encourage local residents to influence government on climate action; and kickstart new community events.

Watford Three Rivers Friends of the Earth – A local climate action group working towards a safer climate, flourishing nature, and healthy air, water, and food, now and for future generations. They campaign for change in the community to have influence on the environment locally, nationally, and globally.

S.P.O.K.E.S Cycling group, S.W. Herts - The local cycle group for Southwest Hertfordshire, formed to encourage cycling by organising rides and campaigning for better and safer cycling routes.

Maple Lodge Conservation Society - Maple Lodge Nature Reserve consists of 40 acres of lakes, marsh, hedgerows and woodland.  Owned by Thames Water who lease it to the volunteer members of the Maple Lodge Conservation Society.

Moth Group, Herts  (Part of Herts & Middlesex Moth Group) – The group started in Hertfordshire and its primary purpose is to support the County Moth Recorder (CMR) in gathering records of moths in Hertfordshire.

River Chess Association - Formed to protect and enhance the River Chess for future generations.

The Soil Association - is managing Woodoaks Farm and has plans to turn it into a model of biodiversity good practice, using regenerative farming methods with community involvement.

Community Learning Partnership (CLP) - is a registered charity, specialising in community learning. CLP run high-quality sustainability arts & crafts courses for adults and families at affordable prices.

Refill Scheme - Refill allows public places such as cafés, pubs, and restaurants, to register as Refill stations that will happily refill water bottles with free tap water. The  nearest Refill stations can be found on-the-go by downloading the Refill app or keeping an eye out for Refill window stickers.

'Friends of' and other resident groups - There are a number of active local resident groups that help look after green spaces in  Three Rivers District Area: Chorleywood Community Garden, Dig Deep Garden – South Oxhey, Friends of Chorleywood Common, Friends of Chorleywood House, Friends of Croxley Common Moor, Rickmansworth Community Garden and Friends of Stocker’s Lake. There are also several horticultural societies, including Chorleywood and district horticultural society, Carpenders Park Horticultural Society and Abbots Langley Gardening Society.

Funding Opportunities

APSE Energy - Funding Opportunities (PDF, 2.9 MB)

Training and Careers

If you'd like to make a difference in your job by helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change or protect and enhance the natural environment, a career in sustainability could be for you. Careers in sustainability are wide-ranging including roles such as solar panel installers, heat pump and wind turbine engineers, ecologists,  agronomists, countryside rangers, and business energy managers, to name a few. Even in sectors that may not be directly linked to sustainability, there are an increasing number of skilled jobs that involve aspects of environmental conservation and sustainability.

Learn more about careers in sustainability and relevant training opportunities by clicking the links below:

The National Careers Service hosts advice on different ‘green careers’ and how to access training:

Green careers | National Careers Service

The Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal hosts information on ‘green careers’ in Hertfordshire and retrofit training and upskilling programmes:

The Environment (hopinto.co.uk)

Careers in Retrofit | Hertfordshire Opportunities (hopinto.co.uk)

Business Support

Businesses play a vital role in helping to address climate change.

Have a look at the links below to learn more about how to make your business more sustainable or business opportunities in the sustainability sector.

For general advice to increase the energy efficiency of your business, from low and no-cost actions to longer-term investments:

Energy advice for businesses - Energy Efficiency for Businesses (businessenergyefficiency.campaign.gov.uk)

The UK Business Climate Hub provides net zero advice for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

UK Business Climate Hub - find advice on energy saving and net zero for SMEs

Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler:

Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Schools Support

Support for your school to tackle the climate emergency can be found here:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/sustainable-hertfordshire/sustainability-guide-for-schools.aspx 

Lets go Zero

Join Lets Go Zero Schools to help your school fight climate change.

"I can endorse this from Croxley Danes. I watched a webinar last term and have subsequently used their support to start auditing our carbon with a view to start using this to inform our action plan"

Helen Cox - Croxley Danes School.