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Wind industry frustration at Government inaction on domestic renewables grants
April 4, 2008
BWEA, the country's leading renewable energy business organisation has been left frustrated by latest government announcements on grants for domestic wind turbines.
This week the Government department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) announced its intention to extend the poorly performing Low Carbon Buildings Programme into the next decade against the widespread advice of the renewables industry.
Alex Murley, BWEA Small Systems Manager said "To extend LCBP in its current form is to extend the illusion that Government is sufficiently supporting the UK microgeneration industry at a critical stage in its development.
Government statistics have long shown the scheme to be providing domestic grants at such a low rate that the microgeneration market is barely affected. Yet BERR announced they will not be removing a widely acknowledged barrier to the scheme's operation, the cap on individual grants made available to domestic onsite renewable projects.
Murley added "The Government is under-supporting an industry key to meeting its renewable energy targets, the LCBP simply doesn't work, we need a new policy that does.
"If zero carbon policies are to be successfully delivered, a steady and consistent ramp up in the deployment of microgeneration technologies must start now."
Notes to Editors
- BWEA is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978, and with over 380 corporate members, BWEA is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK. Wind has been the world's fastest growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is expected to continue with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change;
- Micro- and small-wind is the only microgeneration industry in which the UK leads the world. None the less micro- and small-wind is still an emerging technology and thus still requires the necessary government support so to capitalise on current potential;
- Phase I of LCBP provides grants to householders of up to £2,500 per property towards the cost of installing a certified product by a certified installer. From April 1st new applications are being invited until June 2010 or until there are no more funds available whichever is the sooner, with the scheme to close in March 2011. Information on the household phase of the LCBP is available from the website at http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk, or from the helpline on 0800 915 0990.
- Phase II of LCBP provides grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies to public sector buildings (including schools, hospitals, housing associations and local authorities) and charitable bodies. From April 1st grant caps will be increased to 50% across all technologies, bringing them in line with the funding available for solar PV funding. Grants of up to £1m are available per eligible site. Information on phase II of the LCBP is available from the website at http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk, or from the helpline on 08704 23 23 13
Charles Anglin, BWEA Director of Communications, on 0207 689 1966/0797 348 1907 or charles@renewable-uk.com
Nick Medic, BWEA Communications Manager, on 0207 689 1935 / 0797 701 9933 or nick@renewable-uk.com
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