UK's renewable heat industry taken aback by closure of major grant programme.
DECC announced on the 24th May that the major grant programme for renewable heat had closed with immediate effect.The announcement means that it will no longer be possible to apply to the Low Carbon Building Programme for grant funding to help pay for technologies like solar thermal, pellet boilers, and heat pumps. The funding stream had been extremely popular and REA were on the verge of warning that money would run out in July, when the surprise announcement was made.
All commitments made for LCBP projects in the pipeline will be honoured, however the remaining £3million left in the LCBP funding pot has been removed as a contribution to the government's cuts programme. The announcement has increased the sense of uncertainty faced by the UK's infant renewable heat industry.