Funding

Communities wishing to develop community renewable energy generation can apply to the new Community Generation Fund for loan funding.The Fund aims to bring creation and ownership of renewable energy generation within the reach of those communities seeking to create clean energy, social engagement and a long term income source for the good of their community.

For schools and local authorities looking to make savings and protect against rising electricity prices, Solar4Schools can offer an exclusive financial package that allows schools to install solar electricity technology without the high initial capital cost.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change is providing a new fund which is available to communities in England and Wales who are playing an active role in the development of a low carbon society. Money is available to finance projects that increase understanding and uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and help to make energy supply secure and affordable. Interested community groups should visit the LEAF website for more information and to submit an online application.

The Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme is a government scheme that gives money to householders to help them buy renewable heating technologies such as solar thermal panels, heat pumps and biomass boilers. For solar thermal products, any householder in England, Scotland and Wales can apply. For ground to water, air to water or water to water heat pumps, and for biomass boilers, householders without gas central heating in England, Scotland and Wales can apply (in other words those who are not connected to the gas grid and currently rely on fuels such as oil, liquid gas, solid fuel or electricity for their heating).

The continuous rise in fuel bills is putting increasing financial pressure on UK householders. The National Energy Action provides advice on accessing grants for energy saving measures and finance schemes for those struggling to pay their energy bills.

In October 2010 the UK Government confirmed that the RHI Scheme will go ahead as planned from June 2011. As yet the exact details of the scheme including the rates and the lifetime of payments are still provisional but RHIs will make installing renewable heat technologies, from household solar thermal panels to industrial wood pellet boilers, a worthwhile investment. Although the scheme will only commence in June a suitable system fitted now will qualify for RHIs. For example, for solar hot water systems up to 45kW, a payment of 18p per kWh has been proposed for a period of 20 years after the system is installed. For a typical domestic system this could to equate to around 400 pounds per year and installation costs should be recovered within 7 to 9 years. For further details keep an eye on the website at the Deparment of Energy and Climate Change.

Our Generation installs Solar PV arrays on the roofs of large school or local authority buildings with no capital outlay cost to the school / local authority. There is an energy services contract, whereby the establishment agrees to buy back electricity from Our Generation for the duration of the contract. The price per unit of electricity & the annual price rise is agreed at the start of the contract and therefore known for the duration of the contract, so there are no hidden costs or unforeseen rises in cost.

From 1st April 2010 individuals, organisations, schools and businesses in England, Wales and Scotland can claim cash back for electricity they produce from eligible renewable and low-carbon sources. The new scheme provides a fixed payment for the electricity you generate, called the generation tariff. It also pays for any unused electricity that you export to the grid, the export tariff. A further benefit is that you wont have to pay for electricity that you generate and use yourself.

The Scottish Power Green Energy Trust will grant up to half the cost of the chosen renewable technology. There is a maximum award of 25,000 but most projects receive around 10,000.

The Energy Saving Trust provides a search facility for grants and offers to improve energy efficiency in the home.

A free on-site survey from the Carbon Trust could save your school a significant amount of money.Each survey will identify short-term low (or even zero) cost changes, through to longer term improvements in equipment and infrastructure.

The Scheme will provide interest free loans to pay for the installation of a wide range of energy efficiency measures across the public sector estate providing 100% support in making further progress towards reducing their energy bills and carbon emissions.

The Green Fund awards grants to organisations who apply for funds to help cover the cost of renewable energy technology that can be used to produce green energy from the sun, wind, water, wood and other renewable sources.