12 Net Zero Projects Selected for Borderlands Energy Investment Programme

Image credit: Whitehaven Marina. Credit: Borderlands Partnership.

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Press Release

March 5, 2026

The Borderlands Energy Investment Programme (BEIP) has completed its Call for Projects process, selecting 12 local initiatives to accelerate the region’s transition to net zero.

The programme aims to help reduce carbon emissions, strengthen energy resilience, and create new green jobs and skills across South Scotland and the North of England.

​​Following an initial assessment, 12 projects have now been shortlisted for this funding. The selected initiatives will be refined over the next 12-18 months and, if approved, delivered across the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal’s lifetime to drive sustainable regional growth.

Building on the regions’ role in the UK’s energy sector, the programme prioritises initiatives that enhance community assets, public buildings, and housing through practical technologies – including ground source heat pumps, solar carports, and battery systems for reliable, lower-cost operations. Other projects selected include flexible energy storage, hydrogen production, and modular low-carbon systems, tailored to rural challenges such as fuel poverty and grid constraints, to deliver resilient, affordable power.

Rick O’Farrell, Borderlands Inclusive Growth Director, said: “Through the Borderlands Energy Investment Programme, we’re supporting projects that will deliver secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for residents and businesses.

“The selected projects will help reduce carbon emissions, boost local economies, and build the skills needed for the future. By developing scalable solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural areas, we’re creating lasting benefits for the communities across the region.”

Together, the selected projects will position the Borderlands as a national leader in supporting net zero solutions that will deliver replicable models. BEIP will also contribute to building a more diverse and resilient regional economy alongside other initiatives supporting business, innovation, and skills.

More information about the projects can be found on the Borderlands website: borderlandsgrowth.com/energy-investment-programme

Notes to editors

The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal was signed in March 2021 and is a landmark cross-border investment partnership involving five councils: Cumberland, Dumfries and Galloway, Northumberland, Scottish Borders, and Westmorland and Furness. It aims to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the South of Scotland and North of England. The £350 million investment in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, from the UK and Scottish Governments, is made up of £150 million for Scotland (£85 million from the Scottish Government and £65 million from the UK Government) and up to £200 million for England from the UK Government. This will be supported by over £100million of funding from local partners. The Deal focuses on four themes: improving places, enabling infrastructure, encouraging green growth, and supporting innovation, business, and skills, delivering benefits to over one million residents. For more information on the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and the programmes and projects the Deal aims to deliver, visit: borderlandsgrowth.com Details on the Borderlands Energy Investment Programme (BEIP): borderlandsgrowth.com/energy-investment-programme UK Government announcement on the Deal (March 2021): gov.uk/government/news/450-million-borderlands-growth-deal-now-underway The Borderlands Energy Investment Programme (BEIP) Call for Projects launched in November 2024 and closed on 19 February 2025, attracting Expressions of Interest from across the region. ​The Borderlands Partnership Board has now shortlisted 12 local initiatives, including:
  • Borderlands Energy Storage Transformation (BEST) Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) – BEC and Expert Alliance (Cumbria)
  • D&G Net Zero Energy Centre (Dumfries & Galloway)
  • Northumberland Community Energy Ltd (Northumberland)
  • Hydroluminum Limited (Dumfries & Galloway)
  • PowerHub Demonstrator (Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders)
  • Alnwick District Heat Network (Northumberland)
  • Sustainable Community Buildings (Cumbria and Northumberland)
  • Negative Emissions Energy Supply (Dumfries & Galloway)
  • Borderlands Optimised Output for Sustainable Transport (Cumbria and Northumberland)
  • Woodhorn Powering the Past and the Future (Northumberland)
  • Electrification of Heat in Papermaking (Cumbria)
  • Scottish Borders Rural Community Energy (Scottish Borders).
Full details of the projects can be found at: borderlandsgrowth.com/the-deal/projects-and-programmes.

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