Grants For Renewable Energy
Find out what Government help is available for generating your own electricity.
How to get funding towards installing green energy such as solar, wind or hydro power at home.
England And Wales
In England and Wales, grants are available to support the use of small-scale renewables under the DTI’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which runs from 1 April 2006 for three years. There are several preconditions that must be met before any of the following grants will be made available:
- Loft insulation - a minimum of 270mm must be installed.
- Cavity wall insulation - must be installed if you have cavity walls.
- Low-energy light-bulbs must be fitted in all appropriate light fittings.
- Basic controls for central heating including a room thermostat and a programmer or timer must be fitted.
Electricity Generation
| Type of generation | Max per kWp | Max as % of cost | Overall maximum (per property) |
| Photovoltaics | £3,000 | 50% | £15,000 |
| Wind turbines | £1,000 | 30% | £5,000 |
| Micro-hydro | £1,000 | 30% | £5,000 |
Alternative Heating Sources
| Type | Max grant | Max as % of cost |
| Solar water heaters | £400 | 30% |
| Heat pumps | £1,200 | 30% |
| Wood-pellet heaters | £600 | 20% |
| Wood-fuelled boilers | £1,500 | 30% |
| Renewable CHP | TBA | TBA |
| Micro-CHP | TBA | TBA |
Notes
Percentages are expressed of costs exclusive of VAT.
Costs mean installed costs.
Grants for up to three different renewable technologies may be claimed for one building.
Grants are administered by the Energy Saving Trust. The guidance notes and an application form can be downloaded from www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk, or telephone 0800 915 0990.
To obtain a grant you must first obtain a quote for the installation chosen from an accredited installer. A list can be found at www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/info/installers.
Read the guidance notes carefully before filling out the application form. Grants are paid after the installation is complete, the installer has been paid, and the installation has been certified. Among the conditions it is important to note that grants will not be paid if the installation has been commenced before a grant offer letter has been received.
Scotland
In Scotland, grants may be obtained under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) for the following technologies:
- Wind turbines
- Solar water heating.
- Solar space heating.
- Micro-hydroelectric.
- Automated wood fuel heating systems (boilers and room heaters/stoves).
- Heat pumps (ground, air or water).
Funding for householders is set at 30% of the installed cost of a renewable measure up to £4,000. Householders can also apply for separate grants for two different technologies. The following criteria must be met:
- The applicant must own the property where the renewable energy system is to be installed.
- The renewable energy system must be for a permanently-sited building or mobile home.
- One quote from an accredited installer must be provided.
- The system must be designed, installed and commissioned by an approved installer using approved system components.
For further information visit www.est.org.uk/schri, or call 0800 138 8858. The scheme will run until March 2008 at which point it will be reviewed.
It is also possible for householders in Scotland to apply for grants from the Low Carbon Building Programme but only one grant can be received for any particular installation.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland grants may be obtained from Reconnect (formerly the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund Household Programme), administered by Action Renewables, 0800 023 4077.
Electricity Generation
| Type of generation | Max per kWp | Max as % of cost | Overall maximum (per property) |
| Photovoltaics | £3,000 | 50 % inc VAT | £15,000 |
| Wind turbines | £2,000 | 50% inc VAT | £8,000 |
| Micro-hydro | £2,000 | 50% inc VAT | £8,000 |
For a list of accredited installers in Northern Ireland visit the Household Programme website at www.energy.detini.gov.uk/householdprogramme.
Alternative Heating Sources
| Type | Max grant | Max as % of cost |
| Solar water heaters | £1,125 | 50% inc VAT |
| Ground/water-source heat pumps | £3,000 | 40% inc VAT |
| Air-source heat pumps | £2,400 | 40% inc VAT |
| Pellet stoves | £1,500 | 50% inc VAT |
| Wood-fuelled boiler | £3,250 | 50% inc VAT |
The scheme will run until March 2008 at which point it will be reviewed.
It is also possible for householders in Northern Ireland to apply for grants from the Low Carbon Building Programme but only one grant can be received for any particular installation.
This extract is taken from Haynes Eco-House Manual, by Nigel Griffiths, RRP £19.99, available at all good bookshop or online from Amazon
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