Solar Heating - ''Slow uptake'' of microgeneration grants

25/02/2008

Take up of microgeneration technology among householders has been slower than anticipated, according to a Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) spokeswoman.

As part of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, BERR runs a grants scheme that enables homeowners to claim up to £2,500 as a contribution to installing microgeneration equipment.

So far 4,900 households have successfully applied for grants totalling £7.5 million.

However, the BERR spokeswoman admitted: "On current projections we are likely to see a shortfall in applications and are exploring a range of options for encouraging uptake in grants."

She added that the grant scheme would remain in operation until March 2009 and revealed talks had taken place with industry representatives in a bid to identify a strategy to encourage increased use of microgeneration equipment.

Among the technologies eligible for the BERR grants are solar heating, ground source heat pumps, wind turbines and small hydro systems.