Zero Carbon Accelerator

Get support from the Zero Carbon Accelerator

From expert advice and training to knowledge sharing and finance information, we offer a range of free technical support to help London‑based organisations accelerate the energy transition of their buildings.

How to apply

Discovery

Read our FAQs for guidance and eligibility information. Discover case studies to learn about our supported projects.

FAQs Case studies

Express your interest

Submit an Expression of Interest to check your eligibility and request free technical support.

Get started

Next steps

Eligible organisations will be invited to complete a Self‑assessment form.

Self-assessment guide

What support is available?

The Zero Carbon Accelerator offers a range of free technical support that has been designed directly in response to organisations’ needs. Discover the support your organisation can access below.

Project management

Access support to successfully manage decarbonisation projects from start to finish in areas such as risk management and budget management.

  • Technical project management
  • Risk identification and management
  • Commercial and budget management
  • Support in transition between project stages (e.g. from construction / implementation to monitoring and verification reporting phase)
  • Construction oversight
  • Commissioning oversight
  • Change management

Strategy and planning

Get support in developing strategies and creating plans for projects, programmes, estates and areas. Develop more robust business cases aligned to HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance on 5 Business Case models.

  • Advice and support in strategy creation and development
  • Business case support and development (aligned to the Green Book guidance)
  • Masterplanning support (for estates and for area-based projects including Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs))

Stakeholder engagement

Get help to identify key stakeholders and develop structured approaches to gathering intel and communicating more effectively with different groups.

  • Identifying opportunities for and facilitating collaboration between organisations
  • Stakeholder identification
  • Developing a stakeholder engagement plan (for community; for supply chains; etc.)
  • Developing communication materials
  • Event planning

Technical expertise

Gain access to technical solutions, knowledge and expertise, as well as guidance on how to integrate these solutions into an estate across the breadth of building and infrastructure projects. This includes domestic and non-domestic buildings and localised energy projects such as heat and energy networks and renewables.

  • Feasibility studies
  • Energy and building audits
  • Design/project feasibility and strategic design development (for retrofit – social housing, heritage, non-domestic; for renewables – large scale, building scale; for heat and energy networks)
  • Retrofit assessments/surveys
  • Retrofit coordination and design
  • Retrofit evaluation
  • Planning support
  • Technical risk assessment
  • Data capture, collection and analysis
  • Scenario modelling
  • Techno-economic modelling
  • Technical advisory (for retrofit – social housing, heritage, non-domestic; for renewables – large scale, building scale; for heat and energy networks)
  • Energy model performance (digital twin)
  • Quality assurance
  • Building information modelling support
  • Process automation

Procurement expertise

Get guidance and support on procurement processes, procedures and requirements. Access specialist knowledge of appropriate procurement routes and frameworks.

  • Procurement document development
  • Tender process support and advice, including evaluations
  • Contractual development support

Guidance on finance and funding opportunities

Access specialist knowledge of finance information to build more effective financial appraisals and business cases for projects. Identify and make progress towards the best/most appropriate options, including the development of commercial models to leverage private investment.

  • Funding/finance appraisals
  • Funding/grant application support
  • Suitable funding source/grant scheme identification
  • Costing analysis
  • Commercialisation support
Green Funding & Finance Finder

Measurement and verification

Develop a robust system to measure and monitor if your project has achieved the desired outcomes and targets.

Support in:

  • Developing measurement and verification plans
  • Reviewing measurement and verification plans
  • Measurement and verifying assessments and reviews

Training and upskilling

Access training for specific roles (e.g. retrofit assessor, coordinator, professional) as well as general upskilling and capacity training sessions on Zero Carbon Accelerator related disciplines. This includes peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Use best practice templates and case studies and relevant market leading tools.

  • Training and capacity building
  • PAS 2035 training
  • PAS 2038 training
  • Retrofit coordinator training

Maximising social value

Better understand how to embed social value into business operations and purchasing decisions, to benefit communities and maximise the social, environmental and economic outcomes.

  • Understanding the needs of the local area and identifying opportunities to support a just transition through decarbonisation projects
  • Creating social value strategies to maximise opportunities to facilitate a just transition through decarbonisation procurement
  • Identifying local partners, organisations and good causes to help your supply chain to deliver social value commitments that support a just transition
  • Connecting you with other like-minded organisations to work in partnership to maximise social, economic and environmental outcomes on your projects

Reducing inequalities

Assess project impacts on equalities groups and implement measures to mitigate negative impacts. Understand how to promote inclusion through project delivery.

  • Understanding the links between your decarbonisation activities and reducing inequalities for your local area and community
  • Identifying how your project might specifically impact different groups, such as older people children and people from Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority groups
  • Developing strategies and plans to mitigate potential issues and enhance project benefits to deliver a positive legacy for your community
  • Support in engaging constructively and sensitively with local communities

Please note

Please note that these lists of what each service may provide is not exhaustive. Organisations should contact us or submit an Expression of Interest, if their specific need doesn’t appear in these lists.

While we can provide support in procurement activities and offer guidance on funding options and applications, we do not offer legal or financial advice.

Journey to get support

We’re here to help you achieve your net zero goals. Discover the steps for organisations to get support from the Zero Carbon Accelerator.

Expression of interest

Suitable for direct support, invited to complete a Self-assessment form Unsuitable for direct support

Self-assessment

  • Receive a unique link to complete a Self‑assessment form
  • Gather the necessary information  for your Self‑assessment form
  • Reach out to us if you need any assistance
  • Complete and submit your Self‑assessment form online
  • We will be in touch to discuss your support request in more detail
  • Your submission will be reviewed to assess suitability and establish the parameters of any support
Potential support package opportunity identified No immediate support package identified

Support package

  • A Technical Support Manager will engage with you to develop your support package
  • We will review your support package and your Technical Support Manager will feedback on any changes required
Support package approved Support package not approved

Support begins

  • Support offer issued by the Zero Carbon Accelerator
  • Support offer signed by you
  • Support begins

Discover what this might look like for you or read our case studies to learn more.

Types of support Case studies

Explore the Knowledge Hub

If your organisation/project is unsuitable for a direct support package or you aren’t ready to complete a Self‑assessment, you can explore our Knowledge Hub resources. Browse by topic, sector, stage, and format to access relevant resources to support your goals.

Knowledge Hub

Case studies

Learn how we’re helping public sector London organisations meet their net zero goals.

Discover more