Renewable technologies - grant, VAT and planning permission information
Grants for the United Kingdom
For solar thermal
Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP):
- Phase One Stream 1 for householders allows grants of up to £400 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower
- £2,500 grant cap per household but a mixture of technologies can be applied for
- 3 months to complete installation
- More information is available at the website for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Website for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
For ground source heat pumps
Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP):
- Phase One Stream 1 for householders allows grants of up to £1,200 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower
- £2,500 grant cap per household but more than one technology can be applied for
- 6 months to complete installation
- More information is available at the website for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Website for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Grants for Scotland
For solar thermal and ground source heat pumps
Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI):
- Funding for householders set at 30% of the installation cost up to £4,000
- Residents in Scotland can chose to have a SCHRI or a LCBP grant
- Applications limited to one grant per technology from either of these programmes
- More information is available at the website for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Website for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Grants for Northern Ireland
Action Renewables
The Action Renewables website offers advice and grant programmes and is a lead partner in the Renewable Energy Installer Acadamy (REIA) which is a training and registration body.
Reconnect Programme
The Reconnect Programme offers grants to householders. The householders can apply for additional technologies through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme if it’s not the same technology. Installers registered through the Renewable Energy Installer Academy or the LCBP must ne used.
Greenbook - BRE approval numbers transferred from Clearskies
Solar collectors
Worcester Greenskies FK240
Code: ST1088
Listed as: Solar Diamant (Worcester Bosch)
Worcester Greenskies FKC 1-S
Code: ST1120
Listed as: Solar Diamant (Worcester Bosch)
Worcester Greenskies FKC 1-W, FKT 1-S, FKT 1-W
Code: ST1132
Listed as: BBT Thermotechnik GmbH
Cylinder for ground source heat pumps
Worcester Greenstore 180, 280 cylinder unvented
Code: SC2113
Listed as: BBT Thermotechnik GmbH
Ground source heat pumps
Worcester Greenstore System 6, 7, 9
Code: GSHP6073
Listed as: Worcester (BBT Thermotechnology UK Ltd)
Worcester Greenstore System 11
Code: GSHP6118
Listed as: Worcester (BBT Thermotechnology UK Ltd)
Worcester Greenstore with integral hot water storage - combination 6, 7, 9, 11
Code: GSHP6119
Listed as: Worcester (BBT Thermotechnology UK Ltd)
VAT
All professionally installed renewable technologies, including solar thermal and heat pumps, qualify for a reduced rate of VAT (5%). This reduced VAT rate applies to components and installation costs.
If the installer is VAT registered, the scheme works as follows:
- The installer purchases the equipment from the merchant who will add VAT at 17.5%
- The installer recovers the VAT from H.M. Customs & Excise in the normal way
- The installer charges the customer 5% on the supply and installation of the qualifying equipment
- The installer pays 5% to H.M. Customs and Excise
The net cost to the installer is nil.
Planning permission
From 6th April 2008 new Government legislation rules that, unless within a conservation area or on a listed building, the installation will not require planning permission and will be classed as a permitted development.
More information is available at the website for Communities and Local Government.
Website for Communities and Local Government
Building Regulations
Building Control supervision may be required for some types of roof, particularly where load-bearing capacity is in question or where considerable ageing of structure is evident.
Further information - the Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust offers free, impartial, expert advice about home energy efficiency and local grant schemes.
To contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre call 0800 512 012 or visit their website.
Worcester’s Greenskies solar water heating and Greenstore ground source heat pumps
Worcester’s Greenskies solar panels
Worcester’s Greenstore ground source heat pumps