Britain extends support for micro-power generation

Britain said it had extended the timeline for support, but added no new extra money, for small-scale electricity installation using renewable energy sources, called microgeneration.

Local production of electricity from the wind and sun, for example using roof-top solar panels and micro wind turbines, is attracting increasing subsidy support worldwide as governments try to curb greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Britain has extended to 2010 the deadline for households to apply for some £10 million of remaining grants which it had expected to run out this year.

For households, a medium-sized household solar photovoltaic (PV) system is likely to cost more than £10,000 and Britain's scheme offers a grant of up to £2,500.

It has also allowed public organisations such as schools to apply for a higher rate of support for the installation of microgeneration technologies, from remaining grants of some £40 million.

Previously schools could only install solar PV panels at the maximum rate of 50 per cent of cost, but that is now extended to other technologies such as wind turbines, ground and water source heat pumps and biomass systems.

Earlier this month Britain also relaxed planning restrictions on installations which in the case of solar PV now run into several thousand.