Greener Homes scheme success is biomass boost
The scheme was designed to stimulate demand for renewable technologies in homes, and 16,000 grants have been awarded, many of them to householders installing biomass boilers or stoves.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Eamon Ryan said the scheme fulfilled its objectives, surpassed its targets ahead of schedule, and its €47 million budget allocation was fully committed.
As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in renewable technology suppliers and a ten-fold expansion in the number of renewable energy products available on the market. Mr Ryan announced details of a new phase of the scheme, and said Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) will fund similar energy grants for lower-income housing, school and community schemes and the roll-out of other innovative heating technologies. “Furthermore, Minister Gormley will soon be introducing regulations requiring the use of renewable energy systems in new buildings,” he added.
Greener Homes Phase Two will open for applications on October 1, and will offer grants of up to €3,000 for boilers, €1,100 for stoves, and €1,800 for stoves with back boilers — all fuelled by biomass such as wood pellets.
