How a Low Carbon Grant Helped AET Save £15,000 a Year

For AET, rising energy costs were becoming a growing challenge. As a subcontract fabrication engineering business, it wanted to find practical ways to use less energy, reduce carbon emissions and bring down its running costs.

Through Business Sheffield, AET found out about the Low Carbon Grant and the support available to help the business become more energy efficient.

"Through contact with Business Sheffield, we have been very impressed by their support. They are there, they answer questions and they give us a good understanding of what grants are available."

Reducing energy costs with a Low Carbon Grant

One of the challenges for AET was heating. The business was using electric fan heaters that were inefficient, expensive to run and producing unnecessary carbon emissions.

With support from Sheffield City Council colleagues, AET identified areas where it could improve its energy efficiency and reduce costs.

"The motivation for the Low Carbon projects was to be more efficient on our electricity usage, lowering carbon, and the spin-off effect was to reduce costs within the business as well.”

This led to AET receiving two Low Carbon Grants, one in 2024 and another in 2026.

How AET used two Low Carbon Grants

The first Low Carbon Grant in 2024 helped AET make several improvements across the business.

The funding supported:

• a fast-acting shutter door
• destratification fans to help reuse heat created in the paint shop
• more efficient motors for its welding extraction

Together, these improvements helped AET tackle areas where energy was being wasted and make better use of the heat it was already producing.

AET then received a second Low Carbon Grant in 2026, which supported an electric boom lift.

The compact equipment can access different areas of the business, reducing the need to hire larger vehicles that were no longer practical.

Saving around £15,000 a year on running costs

For AET, the projects were not just about cutting carbon. They are also expected to deliver significant savings for the business.

Across the two projects, AET expects to save around £15,000 a year. By looking at where energy was being wasted and making practical changes, AET has been able to improve its energy efficiency while reducing its running costs.

Could a Low Carbon Grant help your business?

AET’s story shows how making practical changes to premises and equipment can help reduce carbon emissions while also cutting business costs.

If your business is looking to become more energy efficient, Business Sheffield can help you explore the support available and identify ways to reduce your carbon footprint and costs.

Find out more about Low Carbon support and funding from Business Sheffield