44 social housing projects have today been awarded a share of £3.2million to get renewable heating into the homes of over a thousand social housing tenants across Great Britain.

Registered providers for social housing such as local authorities and social housing associations were able to bid for up to the Sterling equivalent of 200,000 Euros (which currently amounts to around £156,000) under the third phase of the Government's Renewable Heat Premium Payment social landlord competition (RHPP) launched in August this year.

Successful bidders will be able to use this funding to install kit such as biomass boilers, solar hot water panels and heat pumps, helping make tenants’ homes warmer, cosier and much more energy efficient. It is anticipated that over one thousand social housing tenants will benefit under this scheme.

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Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: "We need to move away from costly fossil fuel heating to more sustainable low carbon alternatives, not only to cut carbon but to help householders save money on bills too.

"That's why we are channelling investment into renewable heating kit like heat pumps and solar thermal panels.

"It's great to see so many social landlords getting on board and changing the way they heat their tenants’ homes and I wish them every success with their projects."

Andy Deacon, Director of Delivery at the Energy Saving Trust, said: "The renewable heating scheme is providing social housing providers with much needed financial support to install renewable heating in homes across the UK. The winners of the renewable heating scheme are really deserving and will ensure that thousands of homes are more energy efficient and warmer this winter. Energy Saving Trust wishes the winners every success in the future."

The scheme is managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and successful projects were judged by the EST and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on a number of criteria including value for money, type of fuel being replaced, energy savings secured and track record on delivering similar initiatives.

(CD/GK)