21 July 2011: After mentioning yesterday that DECC had not as yet launched their renewable heat grants programme, this morning I see a press release announcing the start of the Renewable Heat Premium Payment’ scheme. However, DECC have now stated that the scheme will be mainly focused on households not heated by mains gas – so the opportunities for Londoners to benefit will be greatly reduced. In short the scheme will provide:
- £15 million in total to support up to 25,000 installations; and
- Householders will need to ensure they have basic energy efficiency measures in place before applying
From 1st August, grants for the following technologies will be available:
- Ground Source Heat Pump – £1250 grant (for homes without mains gas heating)
- Biomass boiler – £950 grant (for homes without mains gas heating)
- Air source heat pump – £850 grant (for homes without mains gas heating)
- Solar thermal hot water panels – £300 grant (available to all households regardless of the type of heating system used)
So Londoners who wish to take advantage of this scheme and install solar thermal panels (that is – if they’re not thinking of using their roofspace for PVs…) should go to the Energy Saving Trust’s website who will administer the scheme. Further information is also available on the RHPP DECC factsheet here.
Frankly until the Government confirms that any schemes funded via the RH PP will also be eligble for the RHI proper when it’s introduced (they’ve refused to confirm this) then I wouldn’t touch one of these grants with a bargepole.