Households in 38 communities have been awarded a share of £3million to get renewable heating kit into homes across Great Britain, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has announced.
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment communities scheme, launched in July this year, aims to kick-start new projects and build on renewable heating schemes already up and running, helping save people money on bills and providing low carbon heating alternatives to cut emissions.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “We need to transform the way we heat our homes to help keep bills down and cut carbon too.
“Community groups, with their enthusiasm, local knowledge and drive, need to be at the very heart of this revolution so it’s great to see so many groups across Great Britain getting on board.
“The money from this scheme will help install kit like solar thermal and heat pumps in around 1250 homes, helping householders reap the benefits of renewable heat.”
Energy Saving Trust’s Director for Local Delivery Andy Deacon said: "Today’s announcement will see 38 communities across Great Britain helping local households install renewable heat technologies (such as solar water heating, heat pumps and biomass boilers).
“Local communities are at the forefront of the scheme and will play a vital role in learning how community buying networks could help make renewable heating more affordable for millions of British households.
“Energy Saving Trust is pleased to be working with DECC and our community partners to see how we can make this ambition a reality.”
Chair of the Transition Network Peter Lipman said: "I'm delighted that DECC, working with community representatives, have developed a scheme which has moved away from communities competing against each other towards encouraging and supporting collaboration between the communities taking part in this scheme, with many different models and huge amounts of innovation.
“The challenges we face are going to require many more collaborative efforts between governments, councils, communities and householders."
Community-based organisations including community co-operatives, voluntary groups, social enterprises and development trusts were eligible to apply. The funding will be used to install renewable heating technologies like solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps into homes in their local area.
The scheme is administered by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and successful projects were assessed on a number of criteria including the project’s vision, potential benefits for the local area, potential partners and any relevant experience of delivering similar projects.
Successful groups represent communities from all over England, Scotland and Wales. The majority of the project work needs to be completed by end of March 2013 with the remaining amount by the end of June 2013.