Here is a guide to some of the possible funding available towards micro-renewable energy installations.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent scheme designed to certify microgeneration products and installers in accordance with consistent standards. It is designed to evaluate microgeneration products and installers against robust criteria providing greater protection for consumers.
The MCS is the only certification scheme to cover all microgeneration products and services, and has support from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, industry and non-governmental groups as a prime method for making a substantial contrubiton to cutting the UK’s dependency on fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions.
Ecoliving is an accredited MCS “installer” and the majority of renewable energy systems distributed by the company are accredited products which means that Ecoliving customers can claim grant funding towards the installation of ground and air source heat pumps, solar water heating and biomass fuelled boiler systems.
UK-WIDE HOUSEHOLDER GRANTS
Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
Ecoliving partners with Scottish & Southern Energy to deliver CERT funding towards ground source heat pumps. CERT is money which the Utility company are obliged, by the Government, to make available for energy saving measures and the installation of energy saving products. The amount of funding available for customers varies, depending upon the size of property, fossil fuel being displaced and the personal circumstances of the end customer.
As an example, a ground source heat pump installed in a 3 bed house displacing oil will attract £1500 of CERT funding. At the other end of the scale, if coal is displaced and the householder is in a priority group, the funding could be as much as £9000.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme – Phase 1 (LCBP)
The LCPB – Phase 1 makes grants available to individual property owners and private householders wishing to generate their own heat or electricity and also who fulfil a number of required energy efficiency measures such as a minimum level of insulation, low energy light bulbs and appropriate room thermostats. Levels of grant currently available are 30% of eligible costs of renewable system up to £1200 for Ground Source and up to £900 for Air Source Heat Pumps, up to £400 for a Solar hot water system, £1500 for wood fuelled boiler systems and 20% of relevant eligible costs up to £600 for automated wood pellet fed room heaters/stoves.
UK – WIDE GRANTS FOR BUSINESS, PUBLIC SECTOR & COMMUNITIES
Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
Only available to Public Sector on Ground Source Heat Pump installations where the heat pump is purchased through Ecoliving, awarded on a first come first served basis. Funding is dependent upon size of property, type of fuel being displaced and priority level of householder.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme – Phase 2 (LCBP)
Open to the public sector and not-for profit organisations only. Grants are available for installations of up to a maximum of 50kW electricity and 300kW heat. Qualifying organisations can apply for 50% of the project cost of installing microgeneration technologies, up to a maximum of £200,000 per site. A site may include more than one building and multiple applications from one organisation for different sites will be considered.
Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) Biomass Heat Scheme
The Scheme is providing grants for the installation of biomass heating systems in business premises and district heating demonstrators. The Scheme will prioritise support for small-medium sized enterprises, and is restricted to heat-only biomass applications.
Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme
The range of NIBE ground source heat pumps are on the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme list of approved products. Companies can offset the capital expenditure on these against tax liabilities.
Carbon Trust 0% Business Loans
Unsecured loans are available to replace old equipment with new energy saving equipment. Loans from £3000 to £500,000 are available, with repayments calculated to be offset by anticipated monthly energy savings. The loan is designed to pay for itself, saving money year after year. Business loans are unsecured and interest free, with no arrangement fees and a straightforward application process. For more information visit www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans
SCOTLAND ONLY HOUSEHOLDER GRANTS
Energy Saving Scotland Home Renewables Grants
These grants are only applicable to existing residential properties in Scotland, for 30% of eligible cost of renewable system up to £4000. Householders can apply for two grants per property. They can be two different types of technology or two of the same type (as long as it can be proven that there is a need for the two). The applicant must be the owner of the building and used by the owner/family as principal private residence. A property with mixed residential and business (B&B, farmhouse etc) use may be eligible for a grant if domestic council tax rates are paid. Other energy efficiency measures must be taken.
Energy Saving Scotland Home Loans
The Energy Saving Scotland home loans scheme is managed by the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. Loans of between £500 and £10000 are available, interest free and repayable in monthly instalments over a maximum of 8 years. Loans can be combined with Grants such as the Home Renewables Grant and CERT.
Loans are made available for the purposes of installing insulation, installation of renewable energy systems and replacement of old, inefficient boilers.
SCOTLAND ONLY BUSINESS & COMMUNITY GRANTS
Big Lottery Scotland
Through Big Lottery Scotland’s Growing Community Assets Scheme, communities can bring real and lasting legacies to their local communities through developing sustainable energy projects.
Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES)
Through Community Energy Scotland, CARES offers grants to a range of community organisations to help with the installation of a variety of renewable energy tehnologies. Communities may apply for funding for technical assistance and capital grants for renewable energy equipment installation and associated costs. Under CARES there is no set grant funding, the amount of funding awarded is determined on a case by case basis.
NORTHERN IRELAND
In addition to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, additional support is available for technologies such as biomass heating and solar hot water.
WALES ONLY HOUSEHOLDER GRANTS
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in Wales
Up to £2000 available to householders who have a child under 16 or are pregnant, with a MATB1 certificate and an income related benefit. The grant allows for a range of energy efficient measures.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) Plus in Wales
Up to £3600 (or £5000 for oil central heating) available to householders who are over 60, or a single parent with a child under 16, who receive certain disability or income related benefits. The grant allows for a range of energy efficient measures. Householders over 80 do not have to be in receipt of any benefits to qualify.
WALES ONLY BUSINESS GRANTS
Energy Efficiency Loan
Interest free loans of £5000 - £100,000 available for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) wishing to invest in energy saving equipment that either upgrades or replaces existing facilities.
Finance Wales
Flexible commercial funding, ranging from a £5000 loan to a £1,000,000 equity investment for SMEs wishing to develop projects involving renewable energy/energy efficiency/recyclables and SMEs providing environmental goods and services.
WALES ONLY COMMUNITY GRANTS
Communities First Trust Fund
A grant of up to £5,000 aimed at small community led organisations in Communities First Areas in Wales to support any type of activity involving local people and providing some measure of environmental benefit for their communities.
Sustainable Development Fund
An initiative to develop sustainable projects, this fund supports proposals that focus on environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects of life.
Environment Wales Grant
Voluntary and third sector groups undertaking practical projects to promote sustainable improvements to the Welsh environment.
Big Lottery Fund Wales
Offering Big Lottery fund grants to grassroots groups in the community and voluntary sector.
COMING SOON.....
UK Feed in Tariffs – set to be in place by Aprill 2010, the Feed-in tariffs are intended to support all renewable electricity generation sources rated below 5mW, where excess electricity is fed into the national grid and the householder receives a pence per kilowatt payment.
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – set to be in place by April 2011 in order to meet our 2020 15% renewable energy target, incentive payments for utilising renewable heat sources will be funded by a levy on suppliers of fossil fuels for heat.