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Solar Power: East Midlands

Volume 498: debated on Tuesday 27 October 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated to promoting take-up of solar panel usage in (a) West Derbyshire and (b) the East Midlands since it was established; and if he will make a statement. (295873)

[holding answer 26 October 2009]: The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) which is our £131 million grant programme offering funding for small scale onsite energy technologies to householders, public, community and not-for profit-sectors. Solar PV has benefited significantly under the programme. To date we have committed over £44 million to solar PV installations under the programme.

The amount of funding that has been allocated and paid in West Derbyshire and the East Midlands is shown in the following table:

Low carbon buildings programme Phase 1: Solar PV

All allocated

Currently committed

Paid

Householders

East Midlands

572,378.22

513,106.22

335,086. 22

West Derbyshire

19,572.00

17,500.00

0.00

Communities

East Midlands

21,581.28

0.00

0.00

West Derbyshire

0.00

0.00

0.00

Stream 2A

East Midlands

114,743.25

54,419.85

44,287.45

West Derbyshire

26,922.60

9,869.60

9,869.60

Stream 2B

East Midlands

54,469.00

0.00

0.00

West Derbyshire

0.00

0.00

0.00

Solar Thermal

Householders

East Midlands

237,654.00

183,200.00

163,200.00

West Derbyshire

5,200.00

4,800.00

4,000.00

Communities

East Midlands

39,880. 55

35,388.00

35,388.00

West Derbyshire

0.00

0.00

0.00

Stream 2A

East Midlands

36,445.75

36,445.75

26,042.15

West Derbyshire

0.00

0.00

0.00

Stream 2B

East Midlands

26,454.00

0.00

0.00

West Derbyshire

0.00

0.00

0.00

Low carbon buildings programme Phase 2: Solar PV

Allocated

Paid

Derbyshire

LCBP2

505,413

220,628

LCBP2e

51,082

Solar Thermal

Derbyshire

LCBP2

35,226

5,985

LCBP2e

51,082

7,034,98

Solar PV

East Midland

LCBP2

1,329,544

590,110

LCBP2e

199,051.65

Solar Thermal

East Midland

LCBP2

761,126

104,903

LCBP2e

121,438.83

121,438.83

We will be implementing a nationwide awareness raising campaign in November with a series of 'road shows' that are scheduled to take place in November 2009 in all English Regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Government are working with the Energy Saving Trust to promote the Low Carbon Buildings Programme household funding stream, raising awareness of the funds that remain available to successful applicants. To date, we have used both their advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants.

We have set up a network of local energy advice centres providing information and advice and set up an Act on CO2 helpline and website to inform and assist consumers

We are working with Building Research Establishment, the programme manager for Phase 2 of the LCBP, to deliver a series of regional events and a positive marketing programme to promote the programme to eligible organisations.