the provision of SouthWest Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) Programme Evaluation

The South West Net Zero Hub (previously Energy Hub) is seeking consultants with a strong knowledge and experience of evaluating Community Energy projects and local government programmes to provide an independent evaluation of the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) programme delivered by the South West Net Zero Hub. The evaluation will review governance and delivery of the programme alongside enabling activities to engage communities and the resulting pipeline of low carbon projects. The study will explore the opportunities, challenges and regional circumstances encountered within the Hub area to provide a nuanced understanding of impact. Funding for this evaluation has been provided by the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS will be a recipient of the final outputs, along with the Net Zero Hubs Management Board, and findings will be used to inform future programme priorities and direction. The successful provider should be aware that an overarching Evaluation of Hub activity is taking place in parallel and will be developing a common approach/methodology for counting carbon across the Hubs. The preference is for the RCEF evaluation to reflect on this in undertaking the review.