Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

APPENDIX H ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireGrant AssistanceIt is recognised that the capital costs associated withrenewable energy installations can be high for bothprivate householders and larger-scale operators. Incertain circumstances, grant assistance andspecialist low-cost or interest-free loans can help toovercome this.For householders, the Energy SavingTrust offers an interactive search tool to findpotential sources of grant-aid. This can be accessedon its website, at:http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/proxy/view/full/2019/grantsandofferssearchOther, more specific grants may be available foractivities connected to renewables, for example forfarmers/ landowners growing energy crops. Whilstsome grant aid is delivered on a long-term basis,other grants may be one-offs or time limited, or maybe on a 'first come, first serve' basis until funds areexhausted. It is worth investigating what kind(s) ofgrant may be available, by contacting theorganisations listed above, and by looking to centralgovernment departments concerned with renewableenergy:http://www.defra.gov.uk http://www.berr.gov.ukEuropean funding from the Rural DevelopmentProgramme for England (RDPE) is administeredthrough the regional development agency,Advantage West Midlands. The RDPE includessupport for 'Environmental Technologies', which canoffer financial assistance to qualifying renewableenergy projects in rural areas.74Technical Research Paper