NIE SHINES NEW LIGHT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY!

8 Mar 2010

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) today launched a new grant scheme to support homeowners who would like to install a renewable energy technology. The NIE SMART programme is offering a funding incentive to people across Northern Ireland who would like to install either solar photovoltaic panels (PV) or a wind turbine.

Gwyneth Compston, NIE Energy, said this is a welcome development with the recent closure of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Stream 1 funding for electricity generating renewable energy technologies. Gwyneth says, “We are finding that the installation cost of some renewable energy technologies is decreasing but we believe that most homeowners will welcome this additional grant support from the NIE SMART Programme. In the past, NIE has ‘topped up’ the various government grant schemes and we see a need to continue to stimulate the uptake of renewable energy in Northern Ireland. Renewable energy can significantly reduce both a household’s carbon footprint and its energy bill, and we hope this additional funding will encourage more homes to look at creating a more sustainable future.”

The NIE SMART funding will offer successful applicants a grant for solar PV of £1,200 per kWp up to a maximum of £6,000, or 20% of the installed cost, whichever is lesser. For those households applying for a wind turbine, the grant will be £900 per kWp, up to a maximum of £4,500 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is lesser.

The NIE SMART Household grant for wind and PV is available on a first come first served basis and you can find out how to apply by visiting www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk Please note that all consents and permissions must be in place before making an application and grants will not be available retrospectively for installations which are already underway.

Support from the NIE SMART programme for solar water heating will continue to operate as a ‘top-up’ in parallel with the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Stream 1 funding until the grant closes later in 2010.

The NIE SMART Programme is funded by Northern Ireland Electricity, the network operator, and managed by electricity supplier NIE Energy. To find out more about saving energy and renewable energy solutions for your home, school or business check out the NIE Your Energy website www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk

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