Grants & AssistanceUK and NI
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme
It was with great pleasure that brites welcomed the Government’s announcement on 10 March 2011 outlining the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive, the world’s first financial support scheme for renewable heat.
At a time when issues surrounding an over reliance on fossil fuels are impacting everyday life it is extremely promising to know that there is long-term financial support available to encourage a greater uptake in installations providing renewable heat.
The RHI will provide a continuous, 20 year, income stream to eligible installations ensuring that biomass is significantly more financially attractive than fossil fuel alternatives. Importantly the RHI will help increase considerably the level of renewable heat in the UK, playing a key role in helping the Government meet renewable energy targets.
With a surge in demand almost certain to arrive with the roll out of the RHI we would urge those wishing to take advantage of the new scheme to negotiate fuel contracts therefore guaranteeing them supply into the future.
UK Domestic
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment The Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme is intended to bridge the gap between the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive for domestic applications in late 2012 and now. It provides financial support for householders in the form of vouchers to help towards the cost of biomass boilers and is available to residents of England, Scotland or Wales. Support for a biomass boiler is a £950 voucher that is valid for 6 months. Further information is available from the Energy Saving Trust via its helpline on 0800 512012 Home Renewables Loan Scheme
Loans of up to £2,000 are available for a range of renewable heat and electricity generating technologies including biomass boilers. The loans are time-limited and operate on a first-come first-served basis.
Opened on 1 April 2011 the scheme is currently accepting applications. In support of any applications a quote and an energy report from your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre will be required. If you are interested in applying you should call your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 for more information and to get your energy report.
UK Business
Wood Energy Business Scheme
Grants for Welsh SME businesses and community groups installing wood fuelled heating systems; plus support for setting up clean wood fuel supply businesses in Wales. The Wood Energy Business Scheme 2 (WEBS) is a £17 million pound capital grant scheme and will run until 2013. Its prime aim is to provide capital grant support to micro-businesses, SMEs and social enterprises to further develop the sustainable and renewable wood heat market across Wales. Eligible for grant support: Grants available of up to 48.2% of eligible costs towards the capital costs of installing woodfuel heating systems and combined heat and power (CHP) below 5 MWe, and also the cost of installing woodfuel processing equipment. Rural Development Programs UK Wales: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/ruraldevelopment/?lang=en
England:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/ Scotland:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP
Scotland Business
CARES Loan Fund It is a new scheme which aims to provide loans towards the high risk, pre-planning consent stages of renewable energy projects which have significant community engagement and benefit Loan finance will be available to cover the pre-planning consent (high risk) stage of project development, a high risk cost which is widely seen as a barrier to community groups and smaller businesses who would otherwise wish to develop a project. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate the highest value of wider community benefit. Any renewable energy project, up to 5 MW, requiring financial outlay prior to planning consent is, in principle, eligible Loans of up to £150,000 Cover up to 90% of agreed costs Security not required Fixed interest rate at 10% p.a. Write-off facility if a project fails to gain planning consent Finance provided in stages according to agreed drawdown schedule Projects must be located in Scotland
Advice is available from CES: info@communityenergyscotland.org.uk
Energy Saving Scotland - small business loans
The minimum loan value has been reduced from £5,000 to £1,000. The maximum loan remains at £100,000. Loans for renewable installations (although eligible under the previous scheme) are more attractive for businesses due to an extended payback period and the fact that the loan value for renewable installations is no longer linked to the predicted energy savings calculated during an energy audit/review. Private sector landlords are eligible to apply under the new criteria. For more information, businesses should contact their local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 Shetland Isles Community Energy Efficiency Programme
Community groups that own or manage a building in Shetland who would like to become more energy efficient may be interested in the Community Energy Efficiency Programme.
This new grant aid scheme, jointly administered by Community Energy Scotland and Shetland Islands Council, is open for business from 1 April 2011.
For more information please contact your local Community Work office or phone Community Energy Scotland staff on tel. (01595) 830206. Alternatively you may contact the Council’s Grants Unit on tel. (01595) 743828 or follow the link: http://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/userfiles/file/Funding/Shetland%20CEEP.pdf Community Sustainable Energy Programme
CSEP is an open grants programme run by BRE as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). BRE carries out research, consultancy, training and testing to help create better buildings and communities. The Community Sustainable Energy Programme will provide £8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of microgeneration technologies, including wood fuelled boiler systems and automated wood pellet stoves. It will also provide £1 million for project development grants that will help community organisations establish if a microgeneration and energy efficiency installation will work for them.
For more information please see www.communitysustainable.org.uk NI Business
Energy Efficiency Financing scheme For small and medium size businesses in Northern Ireland, 0% loans of £3,000 - £100,000 are available from the Carbon Trust to help organisations finance and invest in energy saving projects. You can borrow between £3,000 and £100,000 interest free to purchase energy saving equipment Anticipated energy savings offset the loan repayments. So new equipment should pay for itself and you should continue to make savings year on year The loans are government funded and unsecured A straightforward and fast application process with no arrangement fees You’ll receive a conditional offer within 24 hours of your application being processed Loans can be repaid over a period of up to 4 years
DARD Rural Development Programme - ’Rural Life’ stream
New funding for wood pellet projects are now available from the above scheme supporting a wide range of projects including; Diversification into Non-Agricultural Activities Business Creation and Development Encouragement of Tourism Activities Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population Village Renewal and Development Conservation and Upgrading the Rural Heritage
Diversification into Non-Agricultural Activities is directed specifically at farmers and farm families, while the remainder of opportunities is available to both individuals and community groups. Applicant businesses must be located in a rural area.
The programme provides 50% of eligible project costs up to a maximum of £50,000.00 per project depending on the specifics.
Certain prerequisites are necessary at the time of application: Independent feasibility study (Funding is also available for 50% of the cost of feasibility studies)
Planning consent (if necessary) Micro-generation certification scheme (MCS) accredited installer with an appliance less than 45kw that falls under MSC accreditation Two year warranty, five year maintenance and seven year insurance agreement on an appliance
The scheme is administered via seven Local Action Groups (LAGs) spread throughout Northern Ireland. Please note that the seven local action groups’ calls for applications open at varying times throughout the year, details are available on the DARD website. |