Second phase of RHPP scheme worth £10m

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) have released plans of a second phase of the RHPP scheme – worth £10m more than the existing scheme.

With effect from 2nd April, grants available will include:

– Air source heat pump -£850 grant (for homes without mains gas heating);

– Solar thermal hot water panels – £300 grant (available to all households regardless of the type of heating system used).

The new money will help the RHPP go further including an £8m competition for communities to apply for grants, encouraging community groups to install renewable heating. This is in addition to the existing voucher scheme – mainly focused at around 4 million households in Great Britain which are not heated by mains gas, such as heating oil and electric fires.

Climate Change Minister Greg Baker commented:

“Our aim is to empower householders by giving them the right tools and advice to help them reduce both their energy usage and bills“.

Parliament also published an update on longer term support for renewable heat technologies in households – a firmer timetable is anticipated in the Summer of 2014.

Further details available from the DECC website