22,000 householders are installing new energy technologies under the government sponsored Greener Homes Scheme (GHS).

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan T.D. announced 22,000 homes are to be allocated grants towards the installation of renewable energy systems including solar and biomass technologies.

The announcement of what is the third phase of the scheme coincides with the implementation of the revised Building regulations 2008 on July 1st, which makes the installation of renewable energy systems in all new homes compulsory.

Minister Ryan also announced some changes under the green scheme including the addition a new biomass technology, gasification boilers to the scheme.

In addition, only houses more than one year old will be eligible for grants, with newly build homes exempt.

Of the 13,000 applications already processed, 26% installed biomass technologies, heatpumps also accounted for 26%, whilst solar thermal was the most popular technology accounting for 48% of all installations.

‘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,’ Minister Ryan said.