Zero Carbon Accelerator

About the Zero Carbon Accelerator

To meet the Mayor of London’s net zero target by 2030, we need to accelerate the energy transition of our buildings, such as hospitals, schools and social housing.

The Zero Carbon Accelerator builds on the successes of the Mayor’s Low Carbon Accelerators. The Low Carbon Accelerators ran from 2016‑2024 and have helped save an estimated 157GWh and leveraged more than £250m in capital investment.

The Zero Carbon Accelerator is focusing its support from July – December 2026 on helping organisations who:

  • are at the procurement stage or investment-ready, and/or could benefit from the RE:FIT5 framework, and/or…
  • have secured grant funding from Warmer Homes London, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme or other grant funding schemes.

Organisations who want to explore off-balance sheet solutions or have other projects to deliver can still express interest in Zero Carbon Accelerator support, which will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

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How are we supporting decarbonisation?

  • advising organisations on how to decarbonise their buildings
  • increasing organisations’ skills and understanding of estate decarbonisation
  • helping organisations achieve guaranteed energy and carbon savings through the Mayor of London’s RE:FIT 5 framework, or decarbonise their estates with off-balance sheet alternative financing methods
  • helping organisations access funding and efficiently procure and deliver decarbonisation programmes. 
Zero Carbon Accelerator Framework

Background

Research commissioned by the Mayor of London shows that many organisations across London need expert support to understand how to most effectively achieve net zero. Over 40 public sector organisations across London contributed.

The main barriers that prevent decarbonisation from happening at the rate and scale necessary to meet the Mayor’s net zero target by 2030 are:

  • Developing projects that can secure funding and finance​.
  • Protracted and complex procurement processes.
  • A lack of capital funding and risks associated with investing money with long-term paybacks and no savings guarantee.
  • An insufficient supply chain to deliver these projects.
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The Zero Carbon Accelerator launch. Photo: Christa Holka
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Get support

Learn about the free technical support on offer, eligibility and how to apply.

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Green Funding & Finance Finder

Find the latest funding and finance opportunities for your net zero project.

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RE:FIT 5 framework

Get help with your decarbonisation and retrofit projects, with guaranteed energy and carbon savings.

Zero Carbon Accelerator principles

Projects will be assessed and supported depending on their alignment with the Zero Carbon Accelerator principles. These principles are based on the GLA’s objectives for this programme:

How does this project/programme demonstrate ambition in achieving decarbonisation at the scale outlined in the Mayor’s Accelerated Green Pathway?

How does this project/programme use innovative solutions to promote partnerships, collaboration and opportunity creation?

How will this project help support your organisation to grow capacity and retain knowledge to develop and deliver future decarbonisation projects or programmes of work?

How does this project promote inclusion of local communities and champion a mindset towards social value and the opportunities and outcomes for all?

Does this project contribute to the development of investment-ready decarbonisation?

What is your level of confidence in technological maturity and robust supply chain to deliver projects?

What senior level commitment exists within your organisation to ensure projects are adequately resourced and you have sufficient control over relevant assets to deliver the project?

Social value and inclusion

Social value and inclusion are at the heart of the Zero Carbon Accelerator. We aim to ensure it has a lasting impact on individuals, communities and the environment. The programme supports the Mayor of London’s commitment to deliver a ‘just transition’, meaning that London’s plans to tackle the climate emergency must be fair.

The Zero Carbon Accelerator can help with:

  • outreach to and support for organisations that benefit communities in London most impacted by structural inequalities, to include increased vulnerability to climate risks.
  • advice for organisations on how to reduce inequalities and promote greater social value through their net zero plans, procurement and practical actions.

By supporting organisations to consider their communities’ needs, the Zero Carbon Accelerator will actively deliver greater social benefits for all Londoners.

Zero Carbon Accelerator Framework 

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has set up the Zero Carbon Accelerator Framework to enable organisations across the country to benefit from an accessible route to procure expert consultancy support. Mott MacDonald were appointed following an open tender process. 

The Zero Carbon Accelerator Framework allows public sector bodies and various public sector adjacent bodies (listed here) across the UK to directly appoint Mott MacDonald and the Alliance to provide the technical expertise they need to decarbonise the built environment.  

In procurement terms, this simplifies things. Public sector bodies can directly award the selected provider, Mott MacDonald, using the single supplier framework, without having to run a longer procurement process. In this way, organisations can more easily and quickly benefit from the wide range of technical expertise and combined services it delivers to help progress to net zero.  

For more information about accessing the Framework, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

How to use the Framework

The Zero Carbon Accelerator Framework runs until June 2028 but call-offs from the Framework can run beyond that date. Details on how to call off the contract are listed below.  

A public sector or adjacent body would need to issue a Request Form to the service provider, Mott MacDonald. Potential framework users can request this form via email: [email protected] or [email protected]  

Further details on the process of calling off the Framework can be shared on request. 

Public sector adjacent bodies that can use the framework

Any of the listed organisations in this document across the UK and any of their successors can access the Zero Carbon Accelerator Framework.

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Events

Find upcoming in-person and online events, webinars and masterclasses.

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News

Discover how we are driving collaboration and accelerating the transition to a net zero future.

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FAQs

Read frequently asked questions and find guidance on eligibility and accessing support.