Renewable Energy Grants
The UK has committed to meeting some extremely challenging renewable energy targets by 2020 and as such has introduced a number of initiatives to encourage the adoption of renewables. Solar grants have already been successfully introduced by way of the Feed-in-Tariff which has seen a huge rise in the number of properties photovoltaic (solar PV) systems.
Heat Pump grants have also been introduced, though on a slightly smaller scale by way of the Renewable Heat Premium Payment although the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for domestic users which is due to follow in late 2012, will provide much larger Heat Pump grants more in line with the solar grants provided by the Feed-in-Tariff.
Renewable energy grants - the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a Heat Pump grants scheme which will be administered by the energy regulator Ofgem and is designed to provide long term support for a range of renewable energy products including Solar Thermal systems and Biomass boilers as well as Ground Source Heat Pumps and Air Source Heat Pumps.
Although the final details of the domestic RHI have yet to be confirmed, homeowners will be paid for each unit of heat they produce via their renewable energy system.
Renewable energy grants - the Renewable Heat Premium Payment
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment was launched in August 2011 and is a precursor to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a Heat Pump grants scheme for domestic customers. It takes the form of a voucher towards the cost of adopting renewable energy technologies such as Ground Source Heat Pumps and Air Source Heat Pumps and can also be claimed for installation of Solar Thermal Hot Water systems and Biomass Boilers.
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment is backed by the Government and is available until March 31st 2012.
Renewable energy grants - the Feed-in-Tariff
The Feed-in-Tariff is a government initiative designed to reward adopters of electricity-generating technologies such as Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV). Energy suppliers, including the ‘big six’ will provide the payments and are required by law to do so.
You can be paid for each unit of electricity your solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) system generates – this is known as a Generation Tariff. Additionally, you can receive payments for electricity you generate but don’t use and which is exported back to the Grid. This is known as an Export Tariff.