INTRODUCTION

This Information Paper is aimed at developers who are considering renewable energy for the first time. It explains how government incentives could potentially significantly improve the economic viability of renewable energy. Many examples are based on domestic installations because most readers will be able to appreciate the scale of these schemes and their impact.

The document is not intended to be a detailed design guide for engineers but does contain sufficient technical detail to help understand where GSHPs and low-temperature systems might be suitable for a housing development, and where to go for further information. The general principles can be applied to all types of building or development.

Table 1 indicates the relative costs and benefits of the various types of renewable energy system covered in this series of Information Papers.