Citizen power finally dawns: Industry welcomes Government's clean energy cashback scheme





1st February 2010

The Microgeneration Industry today gave a warm welcome to the Government’s “Clean Energy Cashback” scheme, a package of measures to reward householders and others who produce their own heat and electricity from clean, green, sources.

Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council said: “The Clean Energy Cashback package is a major step forward in allowing people to save money on their fuel bills, cut carbon emissions, and is set to help the recovery by creating thousands of new ‘green collar’ jobs during the next few years.

“There are always points of detail to address for specific technologies and markets, but overall, this is very good news for consumers, for the Microgeneration and broader energy sectors, and of course for reducing fuel bills and carbon emissions.

“We particularly welcome the significant boost given to heat technologies such as solar thermal and heat pumps, and the recognition by Government of the crucial role microCHP is going to play in reducing carbon emissions for those with gas-fired central heating. Solar PV is also now an attractive option for consumers, with final tariffs set at a higher level than those originally stated.”

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure that Clean Energy Cashback is user-friendly for the public, provides the right stimulus for uptake, and that this new industry becomes the major British success story we all expect”.

Further details, including the detailed consultations, can be found at:

Further information: Jane Vaus, 020 7924 0795 or 077480 10447 jane.vaus@micropower.co.uk or or Grace Bennett 01564 732790 or grace.bennett@micropower.co.uk

NOTES

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

“Clean Energy Cashback” is the UK Government’s term given to a package of financial incentives intended to provide incentives to householders, business and the public sector to adopt “microgeneration” technologies. It comprises two principal mechanisms:

  • The “Feed-in-tariff”, to be introduced in April 2010, which will (up to a certain installation size) pay a premium rate to anyone who produces electricity from defined renewable or low carbon sources.
  • The “Renewable Heat Incentive”, to be introduced in April 2011, which will give financial incentives for anyone producing all or part of their heating and / or hot water from renewable sources.

“Microgeneration” generally means the production, by non experts, of energy from their own clean, green sources.

The Micropower Council is the umbrella voice of the UK microgeneration industry and the only body representing the full cross-section of micropower technologies.