Churches, cathedrals and church halls across Wales will be able to access new funding to help reduce carbon emissions, thanks to a new partnership between the Church in Wales and the Benefact Trust.
The three-year project aims to help buildings significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, whilst showcasing practical environmental solutions.
Two funding streams will be available: development grants of up to £5,000 to support churches exploring low carbon solutions, including feasibility studies, energy saving measures and trials of new technologies; and demonstrator grants of up to £45,000 to help fund larger capital projects, such as heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage and insulation improvements.
Applications have to be made through a diocesan nomination process, ensuring projects are ready to proceed and capable of delivering measurable carbon reductions. Successful grant recipients are expected to monitor energy use, record project outcomes and provide evidence of environmental benefits.
Dr Julia Edwards, Director of Climate Change for the Church in Wales, said:
“We are delighted to be in partnership with Benefact Trust with this net-zero programme. The collaboration enables churches to action their plans for low-carbon technologies, and in so doing, markedly reduce their climate-change impact and bear witness more widely to the urgent need to care for God’s creation today and for the future”.
The programme forms part of the Church in Wales' wider commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2030.