Renewable Energy - Solar heating ''proving popular''

22/02/2008

Solar applications have proved to be the most popular technologies among people choosing to install home microgeneration systems, according to the government.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) offers grants of up to £2,500 to homeowners prepared to install microgeneration technology to help meet their property's heating, hot water and electricity needs.

Homeowners can spend the money on wind turbines, ground source heat pumps, small hydro systems and bio-energy solutions, but a BERR spokeswoman said few are choosing to do that.

Instead 75 per cent of those taking advantage of the grants are opting for solar heating or solar photovoltaics, she continued.

"Reasons include the fact that these technologies are further down the path towards full deployment, with a strong installer base to raise awareness and satisfy demand," the spokeswoman explained.

She added that ease of installation and the fact it is a "particularly cost-effective solution" had contributed to the popularity of solar thermal hot water systems.