Solar Power: East Midlands
Energy and Climate Change
Written answers and statements, 27 October 2009
Patrick McLoughlin (Chief Whip, Whips; West Derbyshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated to promoting take-up of solar panel usage in (a) West Derbyshire and (b) the East Midlands since it was established; and if he will make a statement.
David Kidney (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Energy and Climate Change; Stafford, Labour)
holding answer
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) which is our £131 million grant programme offering funding for small scale onsite energy technologies to householders, public, community and not-for profit-sectors. Solar PV has benefited significantly under the programme. To date we have committed over £44 million to solar PV installations under the programme.
The amount of funding that has been allocated and paid in West Derbyshire and the East Midlands is shown in the following table:
| Low carbon buildings programme Phase 1: Solar PV | |||
| All a llocated | Currently c ommitted | Paid | |
| Householders | |||
| East Midlands | 572,378.22 | 513,106.22 | 335,086. 22 |
| West Derbyshire | 19,572.00 | 17,500.00 | 0.00 |
| Communities | |||
| East Midlands | 21,581.28 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| West Derbyshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Stream 2A | |||
| East Midlands | 114,743.25 | 54,419.85 | 44,287.45 |
| West Derbyshire | 26,922.60 | 9,869.60 | 9,869.60 |
| Stream 2B | |||
| East Midlands | 54,469.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| West Derbyshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Solar Thermal | |||
| Householders | |||
| East Midlands | 237,654.00 | 183,200.00 | 163,200.00 |
| West Derbyshire | 5,200.00 | 4,800.00 | 4,000.00 |
| Communities | |||
| East Midlands | 39,880. 55 | 35,388.00 | 35,388.00 |
| West Derbyshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Stream 2A | |||
| East Midlands | 36,445.75 | 36,445.75 | 26,042.15 |
| West Derbyshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Stream 2B | |||
| East Midlands | 26,454.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| West Derbyshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Low carbon buildings programme Phase 2: Solar PV | ||
| Allocated | Paid | |
| Derbyshire | ||
| LCBP2 | 505,413 | 220,628 |
| LCBP2e | 51,082 | — |
| Solar Thermal | ||
| Derbyshire | ||
| LCBP2 | 35,226 | 5,985 |
| LCBP2e | 51,082 | 7,034,98 |
| Solar PV | ||
| East Midland | ||
| LCBP2 | 1,329,544 | 590,110 |
| LCBP2e | 199,051.65 | — |
| Solar Thermal | ||
| East Midland | ||
| LCBP2 | 761,126 | 104,903 |
| LCBP2e | 121,438.83 | — |
| 121,438.83 | — | |
We will be implementing a nationwide awareness raising campaign in November with a series of 'road shows' that are scheduled to take place in November 2009 in all English Regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Government are working with the Energy Saving Trust to promote the Low Carbon Buildings Programme household funding stream, raising awareness of the funds that remain available to successful applicants. To date, we have used both their advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants.
We have set up a network of local energy advice centres providing information and advice and set up an Act on CO2 helpline and website to inform and assist consumers
We are working with Building Research Establishment, the programme manager for Phase 2 of the LCBP, to deliver a series of regional events and a positive marketing programme to promote the programme to eligible organisations.