United Kingdom

Grants & Government Assistance for Biomass Heating Systems

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme

It was with great pleasure that we welcomed the Government’s announcement on 10 March 2011 outlining the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive, the world’s first financial support scheme for renewable heat.

At a time when issues surrounding an over reliance on fossil fuels are impacting everyday life it is extremely promising to know that there is long-term financial support available to encourage a greater uptake in installations providing renewable heat.

The RHI will provide a continuous, 20 year, income stream to eligible installations ensuring that biomass is significantly more financially attractive than fossil fuel alternatives. Importantly the RHI will help increase considerably the level of renewable heat in the UK, playing a key role in helping the Government meet renewable energy targets.

With a surge in demand almost certain to arrive with the roll out of the RHI we would urge those wishing to take advantage of the new scheme to negotiate fuel contracts therefore guaranteeing them supply into the future.

For more information please contact the main office on +44 (0)28 867 51049
 

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA)

ECA's enable a business to claim 100% first year capital allowances on their spending on qualifying plant and machinery. Businesses can write off the whole of the capital cost of their investment in these technologies against their taxable profits of the period during which they make the investment.

This can deliver a helpful cash flow boost and a shortened payback period. If your business pays corporation or income tax at 21%, every £10,000 spent on qualifying equipment would reduce your tax bill in the year of purchase by £2,100.

See: http://www.eca.gov.uk

 


Business - Interest Free Loans!!

Interest free loans from The Carbon Trust
Unsecured interest-free Energy Efficiency loans up to £400,000 are available for small to medium sized business. These loans are for 4 times the amount of yearly savings (fossil fuels versus biomass) and can be repaid over a period of up to 4 years.

See: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk

 

Northern Ireland – Businesses

Grants
NIE 2009 (extended) Non Domestic Biomass Heating Scheme

1. Boilers up to and including 150kW are eligible for 15% of installed cost up to a maximum of £10,000
2. Boilers over 150kW up to 320kW are eligible for 10% of installed cost up to a maximum of £12,000
3. Wood pellet stoves are eligible for £850 regardless of the size of the installation

Funding support can be claimed for the cost of the boiler, the installation of the boiler and the fuel store, but not for radiators or thermal stores (buffer tank). This is a limited offer from NIE and is available on a “first come, first served” basis – retrospective grants will not be offered for existing installations or installations which are underway. All equipment must be new.

Installers must be MCS or REIA approved
Equipment must be MCS or ETL listed

See: http://www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk/businessbioguide.php

 

Northern Ireland – Domestic

Rate Relief
Low Carbon Homes Scheme
The Low Carbon Homes Scheme is a rate relief scheme which came into effect on 1April 2010. It aims to encourage the building of low and zero carbon homes in Northern Ireland. This is a new scheme that will provide full rate relief to:
1. The first occupier of a new low carbon home for up to two years; and
2. The first occupier of a new zero carbon home for up to five

See: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/zero_and_low_carbon_homes_-_web_ready_-_2_march_2010.pdf

 
Republic of Ireland

Greener Homes Scheme

The Greener Homes Scheme aims to provide assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for existing homes built prior to July 2008. The scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Successful applicants can avail of a one off payment of:
1. €2500 for a wood pellet boiler; or
2. €800 for a wood pellet stove

See:

http://www.seai.ie/Grants/GreenerHomes/

Northern Ireland DomesticThe NIE SMART programme funding for solar water heating and PV householder grants is closing from 28 March 2011 and, in its place, there will be new funding available from NIE Energy through the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP).  (which will be available from 4 April 2011)

Funding will be administered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

New grant levels are as follows:

• Household SWH: £600 per installation (grant offer open for 3 months)

• Household PV: £1,105 per kWp or 20% of relevant eligible costs, whichever is lesser, up to a maximum of £5,000 (grant offer open for 4 months).

Please note that these new arrangements apply to new customer applications only -householders who already have a grant offer letter from an existing NIE SMART programme grant are not eligible to apply.