Wind industry’s response to new Government support for small wind and other microgeneration technologies:

The British Wind Energy Association, the UK’s leading renewable energy association, today gave a cautious welcome to the Government’s announcements on the new Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

BWEA Head of Onshore Chris Tomlinson said: "There is an enormous public appetite for the uptake of small wind and other renewable systems and this announcement is a step in the right direction towards harnessing the power of our homes, schools and offices. The best way for the public and industry to respond to this is to demonstrate that appetite by ensuring this scheme is a sell-out and to build a powerful case for even more Government action on small scale renewables. “The total amount of money available for these technologies is still very small in comparison to their potential. Grants are useful but on their own won’t harness the full potential of microrenewables. The Government must also bring forward other measures such as permitted development rights and reversible metering to help small wind systems become part of the mainstream."

The new programme has been given a funding package of £30 million over three years, and Government plans to bring forward £1.5 million immediately to bridge the gap between the existing Clear Skies and Major PV Development programmes and the introduction of the LCBP comes in the next financial year. Clear Skies is due to end in March 2006 with a final deadline for community applications on the 4th November 2005, which sparked fears that there may be a gap between the two programmes. The Government consulted widely on the Low Carbon Building Programme and once the new programme starts it is expected to give grant support for individuals, schools and communities to put renewable power on their buildings.