§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have plans to extend their subsidy of central heating for domestic users to solar water heating. [HL 130]
112WA
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleCurrently the Government assist solar water through a reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent for professionally installed systems.
There are various local government initiatives to encourage solar water heating deployment, including schemes to provide grants and to publicise the benefits of solar water heating. These schemes are funded predominantly through the Energy Saving Trust's innovation programme. The Government are likely further to encourage the development of solar water heating through the forthcoming community and household capital grants scheme for renewable energy. The scheme will disburse grants to individual homeowners and community groups who wish to install renewable energy systems such as solar water heating. The scheme will run concurrent with an installer accreditation and training programme to expand the current installer base. The scheme is likely to be launched in the new year. In addition to this scheme, several electricity suppliers have been encouraged to offer grants as part of the energy efficiency commitment.