Home Renewable Energy Grant

Each grant is worth £500 per technology installed. Funds are limited so applications for a grant will be accepted first come first served from anyone who owns their home in the borough. Applications will only be considered from owners of existing dwellings yet to install a technology covered by the grant scheme; unfortunately, retrospective applications will not be considered. Applications to install more than one technology per property will be considered although priority will be given to single technology applications.

The grant is currently available to technologies that are eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive. These technologies are:

• Air source heat pumps;
• Anaerobic digestion to produce biogas for heat production;
• Biomass heat generation and CHP;
• Ground source heat pumps;
• Liquid biofuels (but only when replacing oil-fired heating systems); and
• Solar thermal heat and hot water.

Step-by-step guide to applying for St Edmundsbury Home Renewable Energy Grant

1. Contact SEAL free on 0800 0288 938 or St Edmundsbury Borough Council on 01284 757622 for an initial consultation. This will help you to select the appropriate technology for your home and lifestyle.
   
   
2. Download an application form (PDF 81kb) or by calling SEAL (0800 0288 938) or emailing seal@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
   
   
3. We support local installers registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and have details of solar thermal installers who have agreed to work to SEAL quality and price guidelines. For other technologies, you will need to choose an installer from MCS
   
   
4. You may need Planning Consent and Building Regulations Approval for certain installations. Once you return the application form, the details of your proposed installation will be sent to the planning department to assess whether formal approval is required.
   
   
5. Complete the St Edmundsbury Borough Council application form and send it to the return address on the application form along with copies of:
   
6. 1. the written quote of your preferred installer.
      
      You can submit scanned copies of the completed application form and documents to andrew.oswald@stedsbc.gov.uk or paper copies by post to Environmental Health, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3YU.
      
      
6. We will contact you by email  or post with our decision within 10 working days of receiving your application. If we approve the grant, you can now contact your installer to arrange the work to start.
   
   
7. When the work has been completed, send a completed Grant Claim Form along with the following documents to St Edmundsbury Borough Council:
   
8. 1. Contractor invoice and commissioning certificate; and
   2. Planning and Building Regulations approval, if required.
      
      You may be contacted by St Edmundsbury Borough Council to arrange an inspection. This should take less than a week to carry out.
      
      
8. Once we have received the grant claim form and are satisfied that the paper work is all complete, you will receive the grant payment. We prefer to pay by bank transfer, but will pay by cheque, if you notify us on the Grant Claim Form.
   
   Following grant payment, we may ask you to complete a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire. This is important to us and will help us to improve our services.

Updated November 2010