Renewable heating gets funding boost

More money has been made available in an attempt to boost the take up of renewable heating kit.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has announced the money off vouchers available under the renewable heat premium payment (RHPP) scheme have been increased.

Households will now be able to get £2,300 towards ground sourced heat pumps, up from £1,250; £2,000 for biomass boilers (£950); £1,300 for air-source heat pumps (£850); and £600 towards solar heating systems (£300).

The RHPP scheme, which was extended in March this year to March 2014, is designed to encourage households off the gas grid to switch from traditional heating systems.

The additional funds are only available to households if they also complete a Green Deal assessment before submitting their claim to the Energy Saving Trust.

Energy and Climate Change minister, Greg Barker, said: “This time limited, big increase in the value of the vouchers for hardworking people who want to do something positive to install money saving green heating in their homes, should be a real boost for this growing sector.”

The renewable sector has welcomed the move, and is hoping that it represents a significant step towards the introduction of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Stuart Elmes, chair of the Solar Trade Association’s solar thermal working group, said the industry can now “vigorously drive towards a spring 2014 launch of the domestic RHI with renewed enthusiasm”.

REA Chief Executive Gaynor Hartnell said: “It’s welcome that these grants are being continued and the levels increased. They need to stay in place until the proper heat payment scheme for householders commences.

“This has been delayed on a number of occasions and we hope this will be the last time this stop-gap measure is needed.”