SOLARSOGOOD.ORG.UK

Grants

The UK DTI's Low Carbon Buildings programme was the grant scheme in place when I had my solar PV system installed in November 2006.

PLEASE CHECK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AS GRANTS HAVE CHANGED RECENTLY.

At the date or writing (January 2007) this was still the current grant scheme. In summary, the grant scheme paid you up to £3000 per KwP installed (or up to 50% of the install cost) to a maximum of £15,000. Note that no help is received towards VAT on the total cost which has to be borne by the person having the system installed. However, VAT is currently only charged at the 5% rate on these installations. You also had to have cavity wall insulation in place; enery saving lightbulbs where possible and a minimum 270mm of loft insulation. Also, your installed heating is to have basic forms of control to include programmers; timers and thermostats as appropriate.

Note that grants are currently only available for solar PV panels fitted on South-East; South or South-West facing roofs. North facing panels generate around 40% less electricity in comparison to the same panels if fitted on a South facing roof; this is the reason that they do not (currently) qualify for a grant.

See the link below for latest/further information:

http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/home/