The good news is that there are grants available to help towards the cost of your renewable energy installation, and better news still, easy and quick to obtain. HOWEVER, for the installation of solar PV or wind turbines most of these grants will end in March 2010 when 'Feed in Tariffs' come into effect. I'll post a new Blog on this after 30th October when the government is to make an announcement on these. For now though...
Homes
The main grant programme for domestic installations is the Low Carbon Buildings Programme- Phase 1. From this programme you can claim
· Up to £2,500 towards the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
· Up to £2,500 towards the cost of a wind turbine installation.
· Up to £900 towards the cost of an Air Source Heat Pump
· Up to £400 towards the cost of a solar thermal system.
We can access grants on all of the above technologies. All of our installations have attracted the maximum grant available. For full details of this grant visit www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/how/householders/
Another possibility for households in the Northwest is ‘Foundation- A Climate Fund for the Northwest,’ details at http://foundation.climatefund.org.uk/
Sometimes, dependant on location, there are small grants available from local charities or local authorities as well. Check your local authority, and try search engines, or give us the details of your proposed project, and let us do the digging for you!
Businesses
Grants
Sadly there aren’t any grants for businesses on a national basis, but there are some regional pots of money, and other options.
For example businesses in Lancashire can claim up to 50% of the installation costs to install renewable energy systems. Through the ‘Lancashire Small Scale Renewables Scheme’ www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/lcdl/money/ssrs/index.asp
The NWDA (North West Development Agency) also have certain pots of grant funding available, for example ‘Finance for Business- Grants for improving your resource efficiency’ (trips off the tongue doesn’t it!) see www.nwdabusinessfinance.co.uk/improving-your-resource-efficiency
A good source for searching for Green Grants is the aptly names Green Grants Machine, see www.greengrantsmachine.co.uk
For farmers and rural businesses, especially those in start up, or looking at expansion, there are monies available from the NWDA again, this time the ‘The Rural Development Program for England (RDPE).’ This could be used to fund wind turbines or other renewable energies and energy efficiency measures. For further details see http://www.nwda.co.uk/areas-of-work/people--jobs/rural-economy/rdpe.aspx
Many of these business grants are hard to locate or to get to grips with, feel free to discuss your project with us, and let us do the leg work for you?
Loans
The main source of loans for energy efficiency projects is the Carbon Trust interest free loans. Funding up to £200,000 over four years for refurbishment or upgrade projects (not new build). See www.carbontrust.co.uk/loansExpect to jump through a fair few hoops though!
Enhanced Capital Allowances Many energy saving products, such as energy efficient air-conditioning, heat pumps, low energy lighting, solar thermal systems (all of which we supply and install) and some other equipment can be 100% offset against your tax bill in year one. See http://www.eca.gov.uk/etl/default.htm or ask for us to send you our ECA summary fact sheet, produced by our nice smiley accountant friends at Alexander Myerson & Co.
Leasing One way to reduce your upfront capital costs is to consider a tax efficient leasing option. Most of our equipment can be leased over two to four years, subject to eligibility, and the title transfers to you once the lease is paid for. Just ask us for details.
Charities, Schools, Community Groups, Not for Profits
Great news that the Low Carbon Buildings Programme- Phase 2, has recently been extended and had additional monies made available. Not only that but it is now far easier access. We can now plug you straight into this funding, which is for up to 50% of the capital project costs. See http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/ But applications for Solar Photovoltaics and wind turbines must be made by March 2010.
You can apply for up to £5,000 towards the cost of a feasibility study on renewable energy projects. And up to 50% of the capital costs for your renewable energy project, through part of the Big Lottery funding scheme, ‘Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP)’, another one that trips off the tongue! See www.communitysustainable.org.uk
There are quite a few options for community and not for profits; another one for the Northwest is ‘Foundation- A Climate Fund for the Northwest,’ details at http://foundation.climatefund.org.uk/
Again, it is worth searching around, or giving us details of your project and letting us do some homework for you. For impartial expert advice on any renewable energy or energy efficiency project, from technical questions to grant applications or for a quotation please give us a call.
