Government Grants for Renewables

In a White paper published in June 09 by Ed Milliband, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary outlined plans for transforming the UK to a low-carbon economy.

He states “What we are trying to do is to not only set out targets for 2020, but a route map to get there”… ….“By 2020 we will have to reduce emissions by a third, on our way to every home as far as possible approaching zero-carbon by 2050, as we meet our overall target for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions.”

The speech announced the extension of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target programme (CERT) to December 2012 and described some of the incentives available to get us there.

Feed-In Tariffs:
Payments for creating electricity from Solar PV and Wind Turbines - are now in place. Heat Pumps and Solar Thermal systems are also deemed to generate electricity; it will shortly be announced how users of these technologies will be rewarded.

Grant-Funded Heating Systems
Woolsery Community Hall now saves almost £2,000 a year Azure provide for the disabled - the cafe is for their use

download a Danfoss Grants flyer...

These buildings all have Grant-Funded Heating Systems
Hollybush Lodge, Oxford University - 40 graduate rooms and two one-bedroom flats New Valley Housing Association - six new-build houses on the Isle of Lewis Priory Rise School, Sheffield - new multi-million pound school in Sheffield

Grant availability

Homeowners and home builders:
British Gas and Danfoss Heat Pumps have an agreed CERT scheme that gives £1,500 on installation for purchasers of Ground Source Heat Pumps and £900 after installation for purchasers of Air Source Heat Pumps.

Schools, Colleges, Universities, Housing Associations , Local Authorities and other not-for-profit organisations (Charities):
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme, Phase 2E will give a grant of up to 50% of a maximum £200,000 project to install Air of Ground Source Heat Pumps with an output of up to 300kW.

Not-for-profit community-based organisations:
Grants for installing Ground Source Heat Pumps of up to £50,000 or 50% of the project (whichever is the lower) can be applied for. Tranches of cash are made available quarterly from the Big Lottery Fund via the Community Sustainable Energy Programme.

Businesses:
Current concessions to businesses installing Heat Pumps are zero-interest loans and accelerated tax concessions.

Renewable Heat Incentives - the carrot and stick approach:
From 2011, users of Heat Pumps will receive Feed-In-Tariff payments from the Government. They will be funded by a tax on those that use fossil fuel (gas, oil, propane, lpg) to produce heat - at the rate of up to 23% for domestic users and 30% for commercial users!