Only ten days left to make an application for financial assistance to install solar thermal water heating in Scotland

Scotland's homeowners need to act quickly if they want to make their properties more eco-friendly after a surprise announcement by the Government to axe their home renewables grant scheme.

Solar Power Scotland said the decision – it had been expected the grants would remain on offer for another six months – means people only have three weeks left to make an application for financial assistance to install the likes of solar thermal water heating.

The closing date for the Energy Saving Trust Scotland home renewables grant scheme – an initiative that currently provides homeowners with 30% of the cost of installing a renewable heating system at their property, up to a maximum of £4,000 – will be 5.30pm on Friday 23rd July.

Energy Minister Jim Mather said the scheme was to end due to “unprecedented demand” for the grants, which have help provide eco-friendly energy at thousands of households in Scotland over the past three years.

But John Conway, operations director for Solar Power Scotland, said the decision will come as a shattering blow to both homeowners who want to go green – and the Government’s own carbon emissions reduction campaign.

He said: “This has come as a real bolt out of the blue. The first we were aware of this was when we got an e mail late on Friday afternoon from the Energy Saving Trust advising of the Government announcement. We had no knowledge, despite being the major provider of solar panels in the Scottish domestic market, that the grant scheme was to be shelved this early.

“It’s very disappointing that the scheme has been stopped, because it is has been an important and successful method of promoting renewable energy to people across Scotland. Almost 3000 households have taken advantage of the grants and many more could have benefitted if they had been available for another year or so.

“What this now means is that anyone planning to install renewable energy system needs to act immediately to contact companies like Solar Power Scotland if they want to take advantage of the funding.

“There are no plans to replace the scheme with similar grants in the future, so this is the last chance for anyone thinking of installing a renewable heating system in their home to get 30% of the cost covered by these grants.”

In the past month, Scotland’s efforts in promoting renewable energy have not only been praised by UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, but they have also been presented to the Environment Council in Luxembourg as a prime example of how small countries can tackle climate change. Solar Power Scotland believe that by scrapping the home renewables grants scheme, it will be difficult to maintain this high reputation.

Solar Power Scotland is one of Scotland’s leading renewable energy providers and specialises in installing solar thermal systems that provide hot water for domestic properties. It has already installed hundreds of solar panels in homes throughout Scotland. The Renfrewshire-based firm is an MCS accredited Company, making it eligible to provide the Energy Saving Trust Scotland home renewables grants.

John Conway added: “Although Government spending cuts are unavoidable at the moment, it is a shame that any scheme designed to promote green energy and reduce CO2 emissions is being cut. The Scottish Government currently has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2020, so initiatives like these grants are vital in encouraging homeowners to consider renewable energy sources. But if they are not going to offer incentives to households, how are they to reach their target? It just doesn’t add up to cancel this grant.

“Ironically, the Scottish Government’s announcement was made just hours before President Obama unveiled a $2 billion funding scheme designed to promote and increase solar power in the United States for the coming decades. Although the U.S. is feeling the effects of the global recession, it is good to see that the country is embracing new solar power schemes and funding – and a shame that we are shutting down our own grants.

“By installing solar panels onto your property, you can dramatically reduce your heating bills and help cut your CO2 emissions, so it’s a sensible decision to make. However, if you want to take advantage of these grants that will pay for 30% of the installation of the technology, you will have to act very fast to apply before the deadline passes – or risk losing out forever.”

The Energy Saving Trust Scotland home renewables scheme is managed by the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. The scheme offers grants of 30% of the total cost of products and installation of renewable energy heating systems such as ground, air and water source heat pumps, wood fuel boilers and stoves, and solar thermal water heating.

Once the home renewables grants come to an end, neither the Scottish Government or the UK Government have plans to introduce an alternative funding scheme to promote household renewable energy from sources such as solar panels.

The Scottish Government says that any applications received before the deadline will be processed on a first come first served basis until all of the remaining grant funding is fully allocated.

Related categories:  Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes   Solar power and photovoltaics 

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