Smart Export Guarantee for businesses
Smart Export Guarantee 2026 guide for UK businesses — best export tariffs, eligibility for 50kWp+ systems, how to register, and how to combi...
3p–15p per kWh exported (2026 fixed tariffs)
Interest-free loan — closed · Updated 12 May 2026
The Salix England Recycling Fund closed to new applicants in 2010 and wound up in March 2025
The England Recycling Fund closed to new applicants in 2010 and all funds closed on 31 March 2025. Public-sector solar finance in England, Scotland and Wales now.
Overview
The Salix England Recycling Fund was a ring-fenced revolving fund: Salix provided capital, the partner organisation matched it, the money was spent on energy-saving projects with paybacks of up to ten years, and the savings flowed back into the fund to be spent again. Over its life it financed thousands of projects worth more than £267m.
It has been closed to new applications since 2010. Organisations that already held a fund kept spending it down for years, which is why the name survived on so many funding lists — but all remaining funds closed and entered repayment on 31 March 2025, and any project financed through it had to complete by that date. There is no England Recycling Fund to apply to, and there is no other interest-free Salix loan for public bodies in England: in England Salix delivers grant programmes only (it administered the PSDS, itself closed to new bids since November 2024).
The 0% public-sector loan does still exist — in Scotland, through the Scottish Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme; and Wales runs a Salix public-sector loan at a low fixed rate (2.45% in September 2026). If you read "Salix 0% loan" on an English school or council solar proposal, ask which scheme is meant, because it cannot be this one.
Key facts at a glance
| Status | Closed to new applications since 2010; all funds closed and in repayment from 31 March 2025 |
| What it was | A ring-fenced revolving fund — Salix capital matched by the organisation — spent on energy-saving projects with paybacks of up to ten years |
| Delivered over its life | Thousands of projects worth more than £267m |
| England now | Salix delivers grant programmes only in England; no interest-free public-sector loan is open |
| Scotland | Scottish Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme — 0% loans |
| Wales | Salix Wales public-sector loan at a low fixed rate (2.45% in September 2026) |
Eligibility criteria
- No live eligibility in England — the fund is closed and in repayment.
- Scotland: public bodies eligible for the Scottish Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (0%).
- Wales: public bodies eligible for the Salix Wales loan (low fixed rate).
How to apply
There is nothing to apply for in England. The Recycling Fund closed to new applicants in 2010 and its remaining funds were wound up on 31 March 2025.
If you are in Scotland — the Scottish Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme lends at 0% to public bodies; apply through Salix Scotland.
If you are in Wales — the Salix Wales public-sector loan runs at a low fixed rate (2.45% in September 2026); apply through Salix Wales.
If you are in England — the live routes for public-sector solar PV are a third-party-funded power purchase agreement (no capital outlay), the Condition Improvement Fund's annual rounds for academies, and your own capital programme with the Smart Export Guarantee on exported surplus. Take your own financial advice.
Worked examples
The 0% loan repayment example that previously sat here has been withdrawn. The fund has not accepted a new applicant since 2010 and closed fully in March 2025, so the schedule it modelled — an £85,000 solar loan repaid over eight years from bill savings — is not one an English school can enter into today. For a no-capital route that does exist, see the PPA guide.
Watch-outs and pitfalls
- Closed means closed: a proposal or funding list that still shows the England Recycling Fund as "open" or "rolling" is out of date by more than a decade.
- Do not confuse it with the PSDS, which Salix also delivered in England — that was a grant, and it too closed to new applications in November 2024.
- "Salix 0% loan" is a real product only in Scotland; Wales runs a low fixed-rate loan; England has neither.
- Public bodies adopted IFRS 16 between 2022 and 2024, so any lease-style solar finance now sits on the balance sheet — check with your finance team before comparing a PPA with a loan.
Stacking with other grants and reliefs
Most successful 2026 commercial solar projects use a combination of schemes — this is where independent advice earns its keep. The Salix England Recycling Fund closed to new applicants in 2010 and wound up in March 2025 typically combines well with:
- Smart Export Guarantee for businesses — 3p–15p per kWh exported (2026 fixed tariffs)
Sources & further reading
Related schemes
Income scheme Advisory + small capital grant
Other relevant grants & reliefs
Carbon Trust Green Business Fund — SME energy efficiency support
Carbon Trust Green Business Fund 2026 — energy assessments, advice and capital grants for SME decarbonisation including solar PV. Eligibilit...
£1,000 – £5,000 typical capital grant (programme-dependent)
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is The Salix England Recycling Fund closed to new applicants in 2010 and wound up in March 2025?
The Salix England Recycling Fund was a ring-fenced revolving fund: Salix provided capital, the partner organisation matched it, the money was spent on energy-saving projects with paybacks of up to ten years, and the savings flowed back into the fund to be spent again. Over its life it financed thousands of projects worth more than £267m.
Is the scheme open for applications in 2026?
As of May 2026, the scheme's funding status is: Closed — all funds closed and in repayment from 31 March 2025. We re-check application windows monthly — if this is critical to your planning, request an eligibility check for the current programme status.
How much can a UK business get?
Typical award range: No new loans — closed to new applications since 2010; all funds closed 31 March 2025. The size of any individual award depends on project capex, sector eligibility, match funding available and the scheme's per-applicant cap.
Who administers the scheme?
Salix Finance Ltd. Applications are submitted through the administrator's process — we link the relevant gov.uk and scheme pages at the bottom of this guide.
What are the biggest pitfalls applicants fall into?
Closed means closed: a proposal or funding list that still shows the England Recycling Fund as "open" or "rolling" is out of date by more than a decade. Do not confuse it with the PSDS, which Salix also delivered in England — that was a grant, and it too closed to new applications in November 2024. "Salix 0% loan" is a real product only in Scotland; Wales runs a low fixed-rate loan; England has neither.
Check eligibility for The Salix England Recycling Fund closed to new applicants in 2010 and wound up in March 2025
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