Search Site
Viewpoints
21/04/2010
Financial incentives still key in renewable technology push
Financial incentives will continue to play a key role in encouraging the uptake of renewable energy technologies, such as air source heat pumps, despite the closure of the government’s Boiler Scrappage Scheme in England and the ending of funding for some technologies under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, says Pippa Wibberley, heating director at Daikin UK.
Legally binding targets for the reduction of carbon emissions mean that the government, whichever party is in power after the May election, will still need to boost the adoption of renewable energy technologies from 1% to 12% over the next ten years. The intended introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive in April next year, along with the Warm Homes, Greener Homes Strategy for Household Energy Management are clear signs that the government is committed to renewable technologies forming a key part of its plan to reduce the amount of carbon we emit from our homes.
Renewable energy technologies, which include air and ground source heat pumps, biomass, and solar thermal, among others, form a major part of the government’s vision for 2020 as evidenced in The Low Carbon Transition Plan, published last year, which sets out an aim of cutting emissions from fossil fuels generated by our homes by 29% in the next ten years.
In its Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy, the government clearly states that, by 2020, “up to seven million households will have had eco-upgrades which would include advanced measures such as solid wall insulation or heat pumps alongside smart metres and more basic measures.”
There has been some concern that because funding for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme and funding for some technologies under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme have come to an end that the government’s commitment to renewables is waning. This has been exacerbated by the fact that we may have a different party in power in a few weeks’ time.
However, this could not be further from the truth. The Boiler Scrappage Scheme funding has come to an end simply because it has used up the allocated budget – in fact it could be described as a victim of its own success.
Similarly, funding for renewable electricity generating technologies, such as photovoltaics, has ceased under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme but has been superseded by the introduction of FIT (Feed in Tariffs). Funding for MCS accredited products that provide renewable heat, such as Daikin’s Altherma range of air source heat pumps, continues to be supported by LCBP.
The fact is that, whichever party is in power after the May election, the underlying drivers to reducing carbon emissions remain and renewables such as air source heat pumps are an extremely efficient and cost effective solution to meeting these targets.
Many social housing providers have found them a practical, easy to integrate, low maintenance solution to meeting heating and hot water needs in their housing stock, whilst, in many cases, exceeding Building Regulations and emissions targets.
As they are highly efficient (310% efficient, compared to an A rated gas boiler which has at best 93% efficiency) they also go a long way to helping alleviate fuel poverty amongst those who are in most need. Later this year, Daikin UK will be also introducing a community-based Daikin Altherma heat pump for use in apartment buildings, which will offer social housing providers even further flexibility to integrate renewable technology into high-density urban areas.
The Warm Homes, Greener Homes: Strategy for Household Energy Management reiterates the government’s pledge that it intends for social housing to continue to lead the way in terms of environmental performance and announces a new “warm homes” standard for social housing that supplements the Decent Homes standard. This, combined with the planned introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive next April, is further evidence that financial incentives will continue to play a key role in the uptake of renewable technologies.
The Renewable Heat Incentive would take the form of a fixed annual tariff, which is paid to consumers who adopt renewable heat systems that qualify for the scheme. In the case of air source heat pumps this is 7.5 pence per kWh of heat generated.
Once this becomes common knowledge we will see an exponential rise in the take up of renewable technologies.
For more information go to www.altherma.co.uk
Legally binding targets for the reduction of carbon emissions mean that the government, whichever party is in power after the May election, will still need to boost the adoption of renewable energy technologies from 1% to 12% over the next ten years. The intended introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive in April next year, along with the Warm Homes, Greener Homes Strategy for Household Energy Management are clear signs that the government is committed to renewable technologies forming a key part of its plan to reduce the amount of carbon we emit from our homes.
Renewable energy technologies, which include air and ground source heat pumps, biomass, and solar thermal, among others, form a major part of the government’s vision for 2020 as evidenced in The Low Carbon Transition Plan, published last year, which sets out an aim of cutting emissions from fossil fuels generated by our homes by 29% in the next ten years.
In its Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy, the government clearly states that, by 2020, “up to seven million households will have had eco-upgrades which would include advanced measures such as solid wall insulation or heat pumps alongside smart metres and more basic measures.”
There has been some concern that because funding for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme and funding for some technologies under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme have come to an end that the government’s commitment to renewables is waning. This has been exacerbated by the fact that we may have a different party in power in a few weeks’ time.
However, this could not be further from the truth. The Boiler Scrappage Scheme funding has come to an end simply because it has used up the allocated budget – in fact it could be described as a victim of its own success.
Similarly, funding for renewable electricity generating technologies, such as photovoltaics, has ceased under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme but has been superseded by the introduction of FIT (Feed in Tariffs). Funding for MCS accredited products that provide renewable heat, such as Daikin’s Altherma range of air source heat pumps, continues to be supported by LCBP.
The fact is that, whichever party is in power after the May election, the underlying drivers to reducing carbon emissions remain and renewables such as air source heat pumps are an extremely efficient and cost effective solution to meeting these targets.
Many social housing providers have found them a practical, easy to integrate, low maintenance solution to meeting heating and hot water needs in their housing stock, whilst, in many cases, exceeding Building Regulations and emissions targets.
As they are highly efficient (310% efficient, compared to an A rated gas boiler which has at best 93% efficiency) they also go a long way to helping alleviate fuel poverty amongst those who are in most need. Later this year, Daikin UK will be also introducing a community-based Daikin Altherma heat pump for use in apartment buildings, which will offer social housing providers even further flexibility to integrate renewable technology into high-density urban areas.
The Warm Homes, Greener Homes: Strategy for Household Energy Management reiterates the government’s pledge that it intends for social housing to continue to lead the way in terms of environmental performance and announces a new “warm homes” standard for social housing that supplements the Decent Homes standard. This, combined with the planned introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive next April, is further evidence that financial incentives will continue to play a key role in the uptake of renewable technologies.
The Renewable Heat Incentive would take the form of a fixed annual tariff, which is paid to consumers who adopt renewable heat systems that qualify for the scheme. In the case of air source heat pumps this is 7.5 pence per kWh of heat generated.
Once this becomes common knowledge we will see an exponential rise in the take up of renewable technologies.
For more information go to www.altherma.co.uk
 |
 |
 |
