Decision details

Mayoral Renewables Fund (MRF) Grant Agreement with Great British Energy (GBE) and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – GBE to pay £42,760 to City of York Council for solar PV installation at Moor Lane Youth Centre. CYC to fund enabling new roof works from existing capital sinking fund.

The Mayoral Renewables Fund (MRF) is a grant scheme for Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) to develop renewable energy projects in their localities. The scheme forms part of Great British Energy’s (GBE) early delivery phase in the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (YNYCA) has been awarded £700,000 by GBE, of which £216,000 has already been allocated to York to fund Solar PV installation at three sites: Yearsley Swimming Pool, Joseph Rowntree School and Acomb Explore Library.

A further grant has been awarded for £42,760 for solar PV at Moor Lane Youth Centre. The enabling works required for the solar PV is a new roof,– the roof works were due in any case necessary due to their age and condition. These works are estimated at C.£200k and funding from the existing community centre capital sinking fund is possible.

The predicated project outcomes will be :(subject to final design)

• £2,768 saving pa+vat
• 13,840kWh Est Annual Gen
• 2.86 tCO2e Carbon Em save/pa
• 71.62 tCO2e Carbon Em save over lifetime of project

Policy Context

This decision contributes to several key council policies:

• Council Plan: Climate Change Core Commitment Objective 5: Increase sources of renewable energy.
• Climate Change Strategy Objectives 7.1 and 7.2: Increase renewable generation capacity and improve energy flexibility and storage.
• Climate Change Action Plan: Actions to explore opportunities for renewable generation and support increase of solar capacity across York including homes, schools, and community energy schemes.
• Aligns with York’s Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP).

Option 1: Approve the GBE Grant Agreement with CYC and allocate the capital budget of £200k from the sinking fund to allow the enabling works

Option 2: Reject the GBE Grant Agreement with CYC

Option 2: As this funding will allow CYC to complete a renewable project which would otherwise likely not go ahead, and there is sufficient capital funding from the community centre sinking fund to carry out the enabling works, that Option 2 should be rejected.