DECC reopens Renewable Heat Premium Payment competition for social landlords

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Environment

Funding to get low carbon heating into the homes of hundreds of social housing tenants across the UK is still up for grabs, the Department for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change (DECC) revealed today.

DECC has decided to reopen the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) competition for social landlords, with millions of pounds available for for local authorities, housing associations and other registered providers to provide equipment such as biomass boilers, solar hot water panels and heat pumps.

The money is being made available to social landlords who did not put in an application first time round.

Seventy-two projects have already been allocated money under the competition, which ran from 28 May 2012 to 4 July 2012, with winners announced on 24 July.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker (pictured left) said: “We have already awarded nearly £5 million to 72 projects under this year’s scheme, helping householders stay warm this winter and move away from expensive old heating systems to new clean renewable ones.

“But the high value for money of the bids we have received to date means that there is still money up for grabs and I would urge social landlords across the nation to apply and take advantage of all this scheme has to offer.”

Registered providers can bid for funds up to the Sterling equivalent of €200,000, which currently amounts to around £156,000 each. Up to £2.5million of additional funding will be allocated under this element of the competition.

DECC says it is making improvements to the scheme in line with feedback from participants, including lengthening the application window to nine weeks and moving the administrative requirement on submission of energy bills to the project delivery stage.

Phillip Sellwood, CEO at the Energy Saving Trust said: “Energy Saving Trust has a long established track record in the renewables industry, which will enable us to provide valuable support to all applicants, offering guidance and clarification where possible both pre and post award.

“All information to support completion of applications for the scheme is available on the Energy Saving Trust website along with information about successful phase one applicants.”

Bids will be evaluated by EST on criteria such as value for money, type of fuel being replaced, energy efficiency measures to be installed and track record on delivering similar projects. Final decisions will be made by a DECC panel of experts.

The scheme is being managed by EST and interested applicants can apply online. The EST website and helpline has lots of help and advice on the application process and requirements of the scheme. Interested applicants can call 0300 123 1234 (England and Wales) or 0800 512 012 (Scotland).

The closing date for applications is 9 October 2012 and successful bidders will be announced shortly afterwards.