Government announces new phase for Greener Homes Scheme as grant volumes exceed 22,000

The announcement of Phase III is timed to coincide with the recent coming into force of the revised Part L of the building regulations which for the first time see a compulsory requirement for some component of renewable energy in all new homes.

The main changes under Phase III of the scheme is that henceforth only existing (at least one year old) houses will be eligible for support and there will be a small reduction in the levels of support for the existing biomass technologies. In addition a new biomass technology, gasification boilers, is being added to the scheme and becomes eligible for support. Applications under this scheme will, effective from close of business Monday 7 July, no longer be accepted and Phase III will be open for business on 22 July 2008.

Announcing the revised Scheme, Minister Ryan said, “The building regulations 2008, which my colleague Minister Gormley brought into force on 1 July, make the inclusion of renewable energy in new homes compulsory. The existence of this legislation means that it would no longer be appropriate to grant aid their installation in new homes. On the other hand the installation of renewable heating systems in existing homes is typically more complex and therefore more expensive and so I believe merits continued support in the short term at least while the market reaches ultimate maturity".

Of the 22,000 grant offers in place, already 13,000 have been paid following the successful installation of the systems. The department anticipates that this has resulted in annual reduction of 33,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The applications are split across the three technologies: biomass (26%), heatpump (26%), solar thermal (48%). The scheme has helped establish a very strong supply industry for the products, services and fuels while the department claims that the more recent application of strict product standards and installer training and quality schemes has ensured that consumers are both informed and confident in their choices.

Minister Ryan concluded, "I see the continued availability of grants for these technologies as an important way of solidifying the establishment of a quality driven industry, that can underpin longer term renewable energy goals as Ireland strives to meet its national and international climate change obligations".

Details of revised levels:


*Where GHS is Greener Homes Scheme


Applications under Phase III will be available when the scheme opens on 22 July 2008.

Under the new building regulations, certain transitional exemptions mean that houses already under construction or houses for which planning permission has already been secured are exempt for a defined period. However the ‘existing homes’ only policy applies immediately to the Greener Homes Scheme.