Small scale renewable energy grants worth some £25 million have now been claimed from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP). The news came as Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks called for more homes and business to follow his lead by adopting a ‘go green’ new year’s resolution.
His call comes as more and more homes, schools and businesses have been helped with Government grants to install technologies such as solar panels, biomass boilers and ground-source heat pumps.
Grants claimed under BERR’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme since it launched in April 2006 are up to approximately £25 million:
* £7.5 million to help 4,600 households generate their own clean and green energy.
* £18 million for a total of 739 projects on school, community, housing association and business buildings.
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "It’s vital that recent efforts by world governments to reach a deal on cutting global carbon emissions are matched by action by each and every one of us. Deciding to go green and generate your own clean energy is one of the most valuable New Year’s resolutions you can make. It is certainly my intention to make a difference, and make my own house more energy efficient and install clean and green electricity.
"There are still grants available to householders who want to follow in the footsteps of the thousands across the UK who have been helped by the Government to fit microgeneration technology at their homes. Many schools have benefited also and the pupils there have been able to see renewable energy in action and understand more about its important benefits."
There are still £11m in grants available under Phase 1 for householders who want to generate renewable energy at home. Schools, charitable bodies and other public sector organisations can apply for a share of the £44m that remains from the original £50m set aside for them under Phase 2.
It has also been another year of progress for the wider renewable sector.
* Consent for eight major renewables projects, including the world’s largest biomass plant in Port Talbot; the innovative Wave Hub project off the Cornish coast; the 66MW Fullabrook Down wind farm in Devon and a 450MW offshore wind farm at Walney in the Irish Sea.
* Announcement by Energy Secretary John Hutton of plans for a massive expansion in offshore wind power. The vast bulk of the seas around the UK are to be covered by a new Strategic Environmental Assessment, opening up the possibility of enough offshore wind to power all of the UK’s homes.
* The announcement by John Hutton of a feasibility study into the possibility of clean energy generation in the Severn Barrage that could generate up to 5% of the UK’s future electricity.
In 2008 the momentum will be maintained with the introduction of legislation that will aim to ‘band’ the Renewables Obligation to bring on more support for less developed renewables technologies such as wave, tidal and offshore wind.
Background
For more information on the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and to apply for grants click here: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/about/hfaqs/
Some successful applicant case studies:
Christ Church Chislehurst, Kent
Michael Milton Church Warden.
http://www.chislehurst-christchurch.diocese-rochester.org
Grant £10k of £51k system cost
6 boreholes; 34kw ground source heat pump system
The ground source heat pumps will heat the new community building which will be linked to both the church and the refurbished church hall. The church grounds were used for the installation of boreholes and the the new extension incorporated underfloor heating. With the availability of a grant to partially fund the installation, this form of technology also offers a realistic payback period, which off-sets the need to raise additional funds by private individual donations.
Bute Cottage Nursery School, Penarth.
Cery Hoffrock, Headteacher
butecottns@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
£1.7k of £3.5k system cost
Education of 3 to 5 year olds, community learning for a catchment that includes the whole of Penarth. 80 children are on roll and these children are replaced by 80 new ones each year. The nursery school is committed to conservation & recycling and engages & educates the wider community in joining with it to ensure that it continues to be recognised as an International Green Flag Eco-School.
Runshaw College, Leyland, Lancs
Grant £27k of £54k system cost
11kWp Solar PV system
Further education college, electricity for sports hall, fitness suite, indoor and outdoor changing facilities. Analysis ruled out wind power. The visual presence of Solar PV coupled with the active system monitoring from an educational point of view, the long life of the technology and the opportunity to claim renewable obligation certificates and rewards for any export payments all underlined Solar PV as the right choice.
Fulston Manor School, Kent
Clive Johnson, Headmaster
http://www.solar4schools.co.uk/schools/fulston_manor_school.html
Grant £10k of £20k system cost
4kWp Solar PV system
Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, Halifax, Yorks
Jean Burchell
http://www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk/
6kW Proven Wind Turbine
Grant £10k of £21k system cost
As the Charity’s name suggests the objects are to provide refuge and veterinary care for dogs in need - in particular Greyhounds and Lurchers. The wind turbine will power the farmhouse which is the charity’s headquarters incorporating living accommodation for the on-site Trustee, office space and housing for older/sick dogs as well as the kennel block housing in the region of 80 dogs at any one time.
