What is the Renewable Heat Premium Payment?
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment is a government scheme that gives people grants to help with the cost of installing technology that generate heat from renewable sources.
It is intended to help the UK cut its carbon emissions and make clean, green heat more accessible and affordable.
The scheme opens on 1st August 2011 and £15m of grants are available, so around 25,000 households should benefit.
What kind of things can the Renewable Heat Premium Payment be used for?
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment provides grants for:
- ground source heat pumps,
- air source heat pumps,
- biomass boilers,
- solar water heating.
How much money could I get?
Typically, the Renewable Heat Premium Payment will provide about 10% of the cost of buying and installing the technology. So this work out at:
- £1,250 for a ground source heat pump,
- £850 for an air source heat pump,
- £950 for a biomass boiler,
- £300 for solar water heating.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
To qualify for a grant:
- you must live in England, Wales or Scotland;
- your home must not be heated by mains gas (unless you are applying for solar water heating);
- you must have already taken basic energy efficiency measures (this means you must have loft insulation to a depth of 250mm and cavity wall insulation, where these measures are practical).
Landlords can also apply for the grants to improve their rental properties.
How do I apply?
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment is administered by the Energy Saving Trust.