Micro-renewables - are they becoming financially attractive?
25th September 2009

Micro-renewables technologies such as wind turbines, solar pholtovoltaics, solar hot water, heat pumps, wood-fuelled heating etc are becoming more and more mainstream. However the installation costs tend to be off putting, particularly if working to a budget.
Obviously, there are the energy savings which will be made over time. Some of the payback times are lengthy, others shorter. But as energy prices soar and interest focuses on the greener more environmental energy solutions, Governments should be encouraging those who wish to contribute a little in reducing their carbon footprint.

So what help and incentives are available and is installing micro renewable technology in your home set to become a financially more attractive proposition?

Grants

There are a number of Government initiated grants available click here to see full details on grants.

The low carbon buildings programme (the Department of Energy Climate Change (DECC)) provide grants for microgeneration technologies including solar photovoltaic, wind turbines, small scale hydro, solar water heating, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps and bioenergy provided you use a certified installer and a certified product.

The programme will also fund renewable CHP, micro CHP and fuel cells once certified installers and products become available. Grants of up to £2,500 are available for each technology.

In Scotland The Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme (formerly known as the Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI )) provides grants for properties in Scotland. This is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust.

Grants are available for solar water heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal space heating, small scale wind and hydro systems, ground source and air source heat pumps and automated biomass boilers and stoves. Funding for householders is set at 30% of the installed cost up to £4,000.

If you live in Scotland you can choose to apply for an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant or a low carbon buildings programme grant. However, you cannot have a grant from both programmes for one technology.

Incentives

If you need more incentive than saving money on your energy bills and saving the world at the same time, then how about selling your surplus energy back to the National Grid.

Energy produced from micro generators such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic systems and small scale hydro systems, once converted to a grid-acceptable AC form can be bought by the local utility company.

There are a number of feed-in tariffs, some of which allow the householder to be paid more for the energy that they contribute to the National Grid than is actually charged for that energy to the consumer.

Export meters are usually required to feed electricity back into the system. Some suppliers will supply and fit them free of charge, others will not.

Once only of interest to a small minority, green is the new black as far as self-building is concerned.

With the effects of global warming becoming increasingly apparent, more and more people are seeking greener ways to provide the energy needed to run a home.

Whether it's solar panels, heat pumps, high specification glazing or eco-friendly wool insulation in the loft space, there is little doubt that it is self-builders who are setting the standards for a greener future for the building industry and the way we live our lives.

Underfloor heating for example, has been available for years but, by and large, the self build market has been the industry's bread and butter - with large scale property developers still opting for standard, less efficient radiators.

But it's not all about saving the planet. Incorporating green ideas into a home can lead to reduced running costs and save you money in the medium to long term too. And when you come to sell your home in the future, you can guarantee that the greener it is the more attractive it will be to prospective buyers.

There is a greater sense of purpose from the government to promote green alternatives too with a stick and carrot approach in place.

Building regulations now demand far better energy efficiency while government grants are available for loft insulation right through to solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines and other microgeneration technologies.

Self-builders are leading the way as far as greener homes are concerned and greenselfbuild.co.uk will be with you every step of the way towards a greener future for you, your family and the wider community.