The UK government has implemented a range of initiatives that are designed to encourage the practical use of solar power. There are various different grant and discount schemes operating on a national and regional level for home owners across Britain. In fact there is over £1.2 billion of funding out there to help you. Local County Councils also keep a number of lists full of accredited installers for microgenerational fittings, and active advice lines to call for step by step application guidance on grant funding for both the public and private sectors. And just by approaching your LCC over the telephone, by post, or visiting their offices, you could be on the first step to receiving financial assistance for your first (or next) installation.

There is a great deal of reasons why we should all turn to renewable energy sources, and thanks to technological leaps within the industry, it has become a lot cheaper to do so. Domestic microgenerational systems – wind turbines, solar panels etc – are even supported by capital grants and funding which will help with those initial costs (that can deter most) and support you start saving, today.

The South East of England, in conjunction with Local County Councils, offer a number of grant schemes to its region and have done a lot to support homeowner and businesses across its sector.

For those people living in the Brighton and Hove area, their LCC work alongside the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to proffer initiatives that best suit the district. For instance, there is the Brighton Solar Grant which could supply you with up to £600 towards purchasing and installing a solar hot water system – which could save you around 30% on your heating bills.

A little further along the coast in areas like Lewes the same funding is also available. The Lewes Renewables Local Grant is means tested, so it is advisable to contact the regional authority to help find out whether you will be eligible to apply. The entire South East district have hundreds of projects and schemes that form part of UK government legislation that ensure these funds are available for candidates.

Even up as far as Surrey and some of the more southern boroughs of London you’ll see that there are discount schemes offering householders reduced rate solar systems, with certified and approved installers waiting for a call.
For a non-means tested grant, there is the nationally available Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) Phase 1 – BERRs LCBP provides grants for microgeneration technologies for householders. It offers funding for a range of technologies at different rates. The maximum grant per household is £2500 and current grant levels for the different technologies like solar photovoltaic (£2000 per kW maximum) or solar thermal hot water (£400 per system) are in place to help you make the change – so make sure you apply

It is important to note that these initiatives are not exclusive to the South East. Local County Councils run projects up and down the country for their various regions. And the projects and support that is commonly and accessibly offered range much further than what has been put on show above. So contact your local council today, and find out how they are working for you.

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