MORE than £32,500 of European Union funding has been awarded to Oxfordshire groups to drive forward green energy innovations.

The OxFutures GreenFund board has awarded that to four projects since it was established in the summer.

One project is for energy efficiency measures to be installed and the other three are innovation projects in the low carbon sector.

The OxFutures project was set up by Oxford’s Low Carbon Hub Group with £1.6m from the European Regional Development Fund to boost renewable energy generation in the city.

That £1.6m was matched by another £1.6m from six council and university partners including Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University.

Through the project, the partners are hoping to increase the number of new low-carbon businesses so that more of the £1.5bn Oxfordshire spends annually on energy stays in the county.

The group are now offering grants to fund development of new products, start-ups and energy-efficiency projects.

There is also an aim to encourage Oxford businesses to work with the hub and the councils to improve energy efficiencies. To find out more email info@lowcarbonhub.org or call 01865 246099