Grants

Renewable Energy

Feed In Tarriffs (FITS)

The Feed-in Tariff scheme, announced by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on Monday 1st February, is designed to stimulate the take-up of small-scale (up to 5MW) renewable technologies for producing electricity in the UK, by providing a fixed, index-linked repayment for up to 25 years.

The technologies included are :-

o Wind
o Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
o Hydro
o Anaerobic Digestion
o Domestic Combined Heat and Power (Pilot schemes only)

How does it work ?

Eligibility: you can claim the Feed in Tariff if you:

• already had a system installed between 15th July 2009 and 31st March 2010
• had an MCS system installed on or after 1st April 2010

Benefits

• Electricity Bill Savings

As a result of generating your own electricity you will save money through using less electricity from your energy supplier.

• Generation Tariff

This is where you will be paid by your energy supplier for each kWh you generate. This rate is fixed by the government and is index-linked.

• Export Tariff

This is fixed rate, across all technologies, paid in addition to the generation tariff, for each kWh that is exported to the national grid. This is set at 3p/kWh.

Next Steps

1. Check that other energy efficiency measures have already been carried out e.g. cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, boiler replacement and double glazing.

2. Decide what renewable technology to install. Local MCS installers will provide a free survey and quote. Ideally, obtain at least 3 quotes.

3. Install the system using an MCS installer and product. Note that additional meters are needed to show how much is being generated and how much is being exported.

4. Inform your energy supplier. Note that different suppliers offer different benefits, and that you can choose which you do business with.

Dorset Energy Advice Centre:

0800 975 0166

FAQs

1. Who can I talk to about this ?

Contact Dorset Energy Advice Centre on 0800 975 0166 or at

www.deac.co.uk or

www.actonyourco2.co.uk or:

www.caringforourworld.co.uk

2. What happens if I had a system installed before 15th July 2009 ?

You are likely to be eligible for only 9p per kWh. Good Energy are campaigning about this. See:

http://www.goodenergy.co.uk/?page_id=6286

More Information

• Contact Dorset Energy Advice Centre on 0800 975 0166 or at: www.deac.co.uk

• Detailed information on how it is working in practice:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Feed-in-Tariff-Clean-Energy-Cashback-scheme#about

• Original consultation document :

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx

Community based organisations

For community renewable projects, funding is available from the Lottery funded Community Sustainable Energy Programme. This Lottery fund is for not-for-profit community based organisations in England. This funding is not available for much longer, currently last applications will be needed before August.

There are two types of grant available:

Project Development / Feasability Grants - up to £5,000 or 75%

Grants are available for studies investigating the feasibility of installing any combination of the micro-generation technologies listed below. The maximum grant available is £5,000 or 75 per cent of the study cost - whichever is lower.

Capital Grants

Grants are available for the purchase and installation of any combination of the following technologies:

Solar photovoltaics
Solar thermal hot water
Wind turbines
Heat pumps
Automated wood pellet stoves
Wood fuelled boiler systems
Micro-hydro turbines.

Funding will also be available for energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall and loft insulation in combination with the micro-generation technology. Where these are not already in place, you will have to install them in order to qualify for a micro-generation capital grant.