Important News Regarding the Home Renewables Grant in Scotland and How it Affects You
Read on for an important announcement was made by the Scottish Government on Friday 2nd July regarding the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants scheme:
“Following the popularity of the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme, the high demand for grant funding means that the scheme will now be closing to all new applications at 5.30pm on Friday 23rd July 2010.
Applications received before this deadline will be processed on a first come first served basis until grant funding is fully allocated.
Once grant funding is fully allocated a waiting list will operate for remaining applications received before the closure deadline.
This waiting list offers no guarantee of grant funding and finances will only become available to those on the waiting list if/when formerly allocated grant funding is not successfully claimed. Clients who wish to wait for Energy Saving Scotland Home renewables grant funding to become available to fund their installation need to ensure that no work has been carried out in relation to their renewable installation prior to receiving a formal written offer of grant in order to satisfy grant scheme terms and conditions.
Completed applications must be submitted in hard copy to: Services Delivery Team, Energy Saving Trust, 2nd Floor, Ocean Point 1, 94 Ocean Drive, Edinburgh, EH6 6JH. Faxed or emailed application forms will not be accepted.”
What does this mean for you if you are planning to retro-fit renewable energy into your home?
If you haven’t already applied for a grant then send in your completed application form to the Energy Saving Trust as soon as possible. Please note that remaining funds will be allocated on a first come first saved basis so time is of the essence. You will need your quote from Ecoliving. Please contact us at Ecoliving on 0141 332 5684 if you have any questions about submitting your application.
An application form can be downloaded from the Energy Saving Trust website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scottishgrants
Please find attached the press release from the Scottish Government in relation to the upcoming closure of the home renewables grant scheme and further information from the Energy Saving Trust below.
Ecoliving offers CERT funding for both new and retro-fit Ground Source Heat Pumps installations. This funding is also allocated on a first come first served basis and must be used by the end of 2010. Please call our Sales Desk on 0141 332 5684 for further information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme closing?
“Continuing to fund grants is no longer sustainable given the increasingly tight constraints on the Scottish Government budget and therefore it is currently expected that home renewables grant scheme will not be replaced.”
What support is now available for renewable installations in Scotland?
The free Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advice service will continue to be funded by the Scottish Government to provide home visits from specialist renewables advisors to householders in Scotland looking for impartial advice and information on renewable technologies to suit their properties.
The Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government on the development of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) for electricity technologies and from 1st April 2010, FITs have been offering financial support to householders, giving a guaranteed income for renewable electricity generated for up to 25 years. The Energy Saving Trust has a Cashback Calculator under the Generate Your Own Energy section of our website to help you work out how much money you could earn and save through installing solar electricity panels or a wind turbine. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Cashback-Calculator
The Scottish Government is also working with the UK Government on the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. This incentive is not yet confirmed but proposes payments to householders with heat generating renewable technologies. Full details of the RHI consultation can be found on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/rhi/rhi.aspx and information on the initiative can also be found on the Ecoliving website: http://www.ecolivinguk.com/whats-new?resid=467&title=RENEWABLE+HEAT+INCENTIVE+%28RHI%29 and the Energy Saving Trust website: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Renewable-Heat-Incentive
Currently there are no national or UK wide schemes available for installing domestic renewables. Community funding or local authority funding may be available in localised area and you can search the Energy Saving Trust website for available grants and offers at the following link: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Easy-ways-to-stop-wasting-energy/Energy-saving-grants-and-offers/Grants-and-Discounts-Database
Grant applicants – If you have NOT YET applied for a grant please go to www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scottishgrants where you can download an application form. You can also call your Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 for assistance on the grant application process.
Existing applicants who have already received a grant offer letter for their installation should be advised that their grant will still be valid in line with the terms and conditions specified in their grant offer letter. Please note that grant offers are valid for 6 months.
How will an applicant know if they have been successful/ unsuccessful in obtaining an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant?
Grant applications are processed as quickly as possible. The applicant will receive a grant offer or rejection in writing from the Energy Saving Trust services delivery team when their application is fully processed. If there are any queries in relation to the application, the services delivery team will contact you or your client for clarification or further information.
Once grant funds are assigned, remaining applicants who have submitted their application before 5.30pm on 23rd July 2010 will receive a letter from the Energy Saving Trust services delivery team, as their application is processed, notifying them that they are on the grant waiting list. Applicants will then be advised if and when grant funding becomes available.
The Energy Saving Trust asks that you wait until you hear from them before contacting their grant processing team for an update on your grant application.