Renewable technologies use free, clean sources of energy such as the sun, wind and water or replaceable sources such as wood to generate electricity or heat that can be used in our homes and reduce our dependence on non renewable fossil fuels. Renewable technologies for your home
- Solar hot water: Harness energy from the sun and transfer it to your hot water heater.
- Solar photovoltaic (PV): Use PV panels to capture energy from the sun to produce electricity. PV only requires daylight to generate electricity year round, not direct sunlight.
- Biomass: Install a wood fuelled boiler system or automated pellet stove and burn wood in the form of pellets, chips or dry logs to release heat into your home.
- Ground Source Heat Pump: Extract heat stored in the ground to heat your home.
- Free standing wind turbine: Harness the wind to generate electricity.
- Small scale hydro: Harness the power of a stream or a river to generate electricity.
For free and impartial advice on what renewable energy may be suitable for your home including local information on installers and costs, call the Energy Saving Trust advice line – 0800 500 3076, or visit the websites on the right hand side of this page.
Planning requirements:
Installation of domestic scale renewable energy is now a permitted development right. However, some works may require Building Regulations or planning approval, for example: listed buildings, installation of a biomass boiler in smoke controlled areas, or a wind turbine for reasons of noise. Please call the Planning switchboard on 01454 86004 or refer to the Fast facts column on the right hand side of this page for further information.
Supporting Renewable Energy
South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has joined in partnership with Wessex Home Improvement Loans (WHIL) to offer low cost loans for owner/occupiers in South Gloucestershire to install a renewable energy system in their home. Wessex is a Community Development Financial Institution which works alongside local authorities across the South West. More information on the low cost loan is available from the Council's Home Energy Coordinator - 01454 865453.
The Government has set up two new forms of financial support, which financially reward renewable energy generators for each unit of renewable energy they produce based on a tariff-system. Support for renewable electricity is via the Feed-In Tariff (FIT), whilst support for renewable heat is via the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). More information on both of these schemes can be found on the Energy Saving Trust Website - via the links in the “Other Websites” section, on the right-hand side of this page.