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Local Council Solar Grants:

Back in 2007 or thereabouts there was a great deal of publicity about CEN grants which were being managed by many local councils and promised £1,500 towards the cost of a solar water heating system.

I have left the details that I had previously posted below.

The scheme was administered in such a way that any solar installer had to commit to providing their systems for an agreed cost. On the one hand this was an excellent way of sidelining the scammy solar installers, hwoever it put far too many restrictions on the decent installers who even working to fairly tight margins couldn't deliver for the low prices specified.

Ultimately there was only one installer prepared to install within the price specified within the scheme.

As far a I am aware this scheme is no longer available and has effectively been superceded by the Renewable Heat Incentive.

NB. The following is left for Information only.

North and West Kent Councils provide £1,500 grant to residents for solar water heating systems

£1,500 Solar Thermal Grant available from your local authority.

North and West Kent Councils provide £1,500 grant to residents for solar water heating systems

The grant is additional to government funding of up to £400 from the Low Carbon Building Programme.

This means anybody wanting to install a solar hot water system would potentially benefit from £1,900 off the installed cost of a system.  With the availability of the £1,500 grant, the £400 grant might be distraction as it is often difficult to secure. Go for the £1,500, the £400 is no more than the icing on the cake - if you can get it!

With legitimate systems costing in the region of £4,000, Kent residents could find themselves benefiting from near enough half price systems.  

Residents of Ashford, Dart ford, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells are eligible for the grant.

The grant is being managed by Creative Environmental Networks who can provide a free quotation from a network of UK Microgeneration Scheme approved installers and will check the quotation for value and suitability.   The scheme aims to support residents who want to be less reliant on the traditional sources, and costs, of energy.  Solar thermal is particularly attractive for households who do not have mains gas and consequently have expensive water heating bills.

Tessa Barraclough from Creative Environmental Networks said: “This level of funding now makes solar thermal a really cost effective way for people who have already implemented low cost energy saving measures to reduce their household carbon emissions.  Many people find that they can turn off their boiler altogether over the summer, thus extending the life of their boiler and reducing maintenance costs.”