Energy derived from renewable sources reduces our dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil.  Replenishment of these fossil fuels takes millions of years, whereas renewable energy uses existing inexhaustible sources such as the sun, wind, water, heat from the earth and bio-mass.

Unlike fossil fuels that produce harmful gases when burned, renewable energy produces very little or none at all.  It uses natural sources which are continuous and non-polluting.  Bio-mass does produce carbon dioxide but this is offset against the replanting of organic material which will absorb the carbon emissions.

Most renewable energy is produced on a large scale such as wind farms, hydro or tidal but there are ‘small scale’ renewable technologies that can be used on homes such as solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal (using the earth’s heat), and bio-fuel boilers.

If none of the technologies are viable for your property you can switch to a ‘green electricity tariff’ where the electricity is produced by renewable energy.  Your energy supplier will have information on the different tariffs that are available.

To find out more about grants for renewable energy technologies, please click on the 'Energy Grant Assistance' page.