Northern Ireland Office

The Government is proposing changes to the Building Regulations which will make the use of renewable energy compulsory in all new builds from 2008, Secretary of State Peter Hain MP said today.

The changes, which all apply to all new homes, company and public buildings, will make micro-generation, such as solar panels to heat hot water, solar photo voltaic panels on roofs to generate electricity or small wind turbines for houses, mandatory in under two years.

Launching an £8 million renewable energy Household Programme, Peter Hain said that Northern Ireland is leading the rest of the United Kingdom in green energy.

Some 4,000 households will benefit under the Household Programme to install renewable energy systems in their home.

Families on low incomes and in social housing are also set to benefit from renewable energy. The Department of Social Development is providing 100 per cent grant assistance to install solar hot water systems in 500 homes in private fuel poor vulnerable households.

In the public sector, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is to install 600 solar water panels in its properties.

Peter Hain said: “Northern Ireland is leading the rest of the UK in renewable energy and the Government is introducing initiatives to stimulate the use of green energy across the board.

“The Household Programme is another important milestone in the promotion of renewable energy in Northern Ireland. It puts in place an initiative that will stimulate renewable energy at household level and effectively initiate a programme of micro-generation development for the future.

“I am fully committed to the use of renewable energy and I know how effective it can be. In my home in Wales, I have installed PV panels on my roof and this has resulted in my energy bill being halved.

“As a Government, we are also moving forward in changes to the building regulations to help and encourage greater use of renewable energy.

“Changes will come into effect in November that will result in a 40 per cent reduction in emission and set onerous targets to encourage the use of renewables.

“Planned amendments to the Building Regulations will make micro-generation mandatory in new builds from April 2008. This comprehensive range of measures puts Northern Ireland in a good position to develop its renewable energy options.”

The Household Programme which was launched today in Comber is part of the Environment & Renewable Energy Fund announced by Peter Hain in February.

Notes to editors

An agent has been appointed to administer the Household Programme for a three month period until the full tendering process can be completed for longer term administration.

Administration of the Household Programme will be handled by a partnership led by Action Renewables, along with the Energy Saving Trust and the Northern Ireland Energy Action. They can be contacted on 0800 023 4077 by anyone wishing to enquire about a Household Programme Grant.

The Household Programme will offer grants to up to 50 per cent to 4000 households of the cost of installing systems such as solar heating schemes and photovoltaic panels, small scale wind turbines, biomass boilers and geothermal heat pumps.

An initiative run through the Department of Social Development, will provide grant aid of 100 per cent for 500 low income families to install solar hot water systems in their homes. This work will begin in September. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive will also install solar water panels in 600 of its homes. This work will begin in September.

The change to the Building Regulations is unique to Northern Ireland. To date, Building Regulations deal with insulation and efficiency, the move to micro-generation is a new initiative in which Northern Ireland is taking the lead.

The Environment and renewable Energy Fund is an additional ring-fenced £59.2m over the two years to enhance and accelerate renewables development and deployment in Northern Ireland.

The funds four board areas are Research and Development (£15.2m); Accelerated deployment (£35); Building Markey Capacity (£2.5m) and Underpinning Knowledge (£65m).

Renewable Energy Progress Report