From eligibility to application for UK cleantech and net-zero grants: DESNZ and Innovate UK competitions in hydrogen, energy, CCUS, and clean transport, plus every other UK grant you qualify for.
Cleantech and net-zero competitions plus other UK grants, all with one application
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Eligibility check after you sign up
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Grants, family offices, angel investors & VCs
UK cleantech and net-zero grants run £25K to £5M+, from feasibility studies to large collaborative R&D, with competitions often opening on just 4 to 8 weeks' notice.
The founder's guide
What Cleantech Grants Are Available in the UK?
The UK runs one of the deepest pools of cleantech and net-zero grant funding in the world. The big multi-year programme NZIP closed in 2025, but the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and Innovate UK continue to run a steady stream of competitions, from £25K feasibility studies to multi-million-pound collaborative R&D and demonstration projects.
The catch: these competitions open and close fast, often with only 4 to 8 weeks' notice, and the strongest applications line up industrial partners in advance. Our free eligibility check flags the cleantech competitions, and every other UK grant, that match your startup, so you don't miss a window.
Where the funding goes
Cleantech Funding Focus Areas
Competitions are themed. These are the areas DESNZ and Innovate UK fund most consistently for startups.
Energy & Hydrogen
Hydrogen production and storage, CCUS, offshore wind, smart grid technology, long-duration energy storage, and heat-pump innovation.
Clean Transport
Zero-emission vehicles, EV charging infrastructure, batteries, sustainable aviation and maritime, and supporting digital systems.
Industry & Circular Economy
Industrial decarbonisation, energy efficiency, circular-economy and materials innovation, and agri-tech sustainability.
Is there an open cleantech competition for your technology?Complete the application form and we'll automatically match you with the most relevant grants, including the cleantech competitions you qualify for. It's 100% free.
Eligibility is set per competition, but the patterns are consistent. Here's what most cleantech calls expect.
A UK-registered company with a cleantech or net-zero innovation at the stage the competition targets.
A fit to the published theme. Each call is specific, hydrogen, grid, transport, so your project has to match the scope precisely.
Consortium partners where required. Larger demonstration projects often need an industrial partner such as a utility, grid operator, or manufacturer.
Match funding. Grant rates typically run 40–70% of eligible costs depending on company size and project type, with you funding the balance.
A founder's guide
How to Win a Cleantech Grant
Speed and partners win cleantech competitions. Here's how to be ready when the right call opens.
Step 1
Track Open Competitions
Cleantech calls open with only 4–8 weeks' notice. Monitor the Innovation Funding Service and Innovate UK alerts. Run the free eligibility checker to know which competitions, and other UK grants, fit you before they open.
Step 2
Line Up Partners Early
Identify industrial or academic partners ahead of time. Having a utility, grid operator, or manufacturer committed before you apply dramatically improves your score on the route-to-market criterion.
Step 3
Write to the Scope & Submit
Answer the published scope precisely and submit early, portals close on time. Decisions and assessor feedback typically arrive within 12–16 weeks of close.
Done-for-you service
Don't want to write it yourself? We build the application for you.
The steps above are the do-it-yourself route. If you would rather hand it off, our grant specialists write, package and manage the whole application for you, working alongside you so the technical detail stays yours while we handle the process.
1ApplyTell us about your startup and the grant you are targeting. It takes a few minutes.
2Chat with a specialistA grant specialist checks your fit, confirms the right programme, and scopes the work with you.
3We build your applicationWe write the narrative, budget and supporting documents to the funder's exact scoring criteria.
4We guide every stageMany grants run in several rounds (assessment, interviews, sometimes multiple phases, then reporting). We handle each step and explain everything as we go.
Transparent, mostly success-based pricingA modest upfront fee to scope and start the work (not always tied to your metrics), plus a success fee based on the grant, the amount awarded, and your business. Every engagement is quoted individually.
Apply and we'll come back with a tailored budget for your specific grant.
Interactive Tool
Check Your UK Grant Eligibility in 30 Seconds
Every UK grant is listed below by default. Tell us your stage and sector to narrow them to the Innovate UK grants, R&D credits, and SEIS/EIS routes that match your startup. Getting matched is 100% free - no fee, no commission, no credit card.
Choose your stage and sector below to see which UK grants you may be eligible for
Want a definitive eligibility report? It's free.
This is a first-pass match based on stage, sector, and geography. Complete the application form and we'll automatically match you with the most relevant grants - including the one you're researching - cross-referencing your technology, IP, team, and traction against every active UK programme. This matching service is completely free: no fee, no commission, no credit card required.
The strongest raises stack multiple non-dilutive programmes. Here are the other UK grants you can apply for, all matched in one free eligibility check.
No. The Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) closed in 2025. Don't apply to it. DESNZ and Innovate UK continue to fund cleantech through ongoing thematic competitions, so the funding is still very much available, just through different calls.
It ranges widely: from around £25K for early feasibility studies up to £5M or more for large collaborative R&D and demonstration projects. Grant rates typically cover 40–70% of eligible costs depending on your company size and the project stage.
Not always for smaller feasibility grants, but larger demonstration competitions frequently require a consortium, for example a utility, grid operator, or manufacturer. Lining up partners early is one of the biggest factors in a successful application.
Yes. Cleantech grants stack well with R&D tax credits and SEIS/EIS-backed equity. Cleantech is also strong territory for combining a grant with an Innovate UK investor-partnered round. Our free check shows everything you qualify for.
The Full Capital Stack
Grants Are Only Part of the Stack
Innovate UK grants and R&D tax credits cover early-stage R&D, but most UK startups need equity capital to scale. The strongest raises combine grants with SEIS/EIS-qualifying angel or VC investment.
AngelsPartners is the only platform where a founder can access all three capital pathways in one place: grants (this page), debt financing, and 120,000+ equity investors.
Equity funding
UK Angels & VCs
Search a database of SEIS/EIS-active angels, micro-VCs, and funds investing in UK startups. Filter by sector, geography, ticket size, and stage. Direct contact details included - no gatekeepers, no pay-to-pitch.
Venture debt, revenue-based financing, and startup loan programmes - without diluting your cap table. Our AI matches you to a curated lender network based on your revenue, traction, and geography.
