The main mechanism for reducing the cost of microgeneration equipment for households is through the Low Carbon Buildings Phase 1 capital grant programme. The 2007 Budget announced a further £6 million to be added to the householder stream of this programme, bringing the total available to approximately £18.7 million.
We have also introduced legislation to make it easier for microgenerators to gain access to the monetary benefits of Renewable Obligation Certificates. And we are continuing to work with larger energy suppliers to ensure transparency of prices offered for exported electricity from microgenerators and to make technical changes that would help suppliers to cut administration costs and make it more cost-effective to offer export tariffs.
The Communities and Local Government Department have recently published a consultation setting out plans to make it easier for householders to install microgeneration equipment without having to go through the planning process and incurring the associated costs.