HELP WITH HYDRO
When you have read the relevant guidelines below, you can click here to
Download the Smart Application form 
.
Hydro Application Guidelines
Details of the eligibility criteria are listed below. These details may change at any time without notice as the scheme develops. NIE reserve the right to decline an application.
It is important to note that NIE will NOT provide retrospective grants.
Payment of the grant will be made on commissioning of the system. A letter of grant offer will be provided to eligible participants in the meantime.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must be the owner of the property for which grant is applied for.
- Grant must be used to support the capital and installation costs of a renewable energy scheme. As a general rule this includes only the equipment itself and related works specific to the functionality of that equipment.
- Applicant will be resident of Northern Ireland.
- Scheme must be located within Northern Ireland.
- As there are currently no local hydro installers accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, the applicant should ensure their installer has a good track record, is competent and has all necessary insurances in place.
- DIY is not allowable.
- System must use components on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme or British Hydropower Association product list. Grants are only available for the installation of new components, re-used or refurbished components are not permissible.
- Grant for system 1.0kWe upwards is £500 per kWe, up to a maximum of £20,000, whichever is smaller.
- All statutory approvals must be in place e.g. under ‘Drainage Order (NI) 1973, Fisheries Act (NI) 1966 & Water Order (1999), also an abstraction licence. Action Renewables will be able to advise eligible individuals on these.
- Applicant will provide an estimate of the annual energy output of the system.
- Grants must be claimed within 18 months of a grant offer being made by NIE.
- Applicant must agree to participate in NIE case study material. (This is referred to in the existing contract).
- Applicant must agree to monitoring of the scheme by the scheme manager. (This is referred to in the existing NIE grant contract).
- Applicant must allow access to the installation for inspection purposes by the scheme manager (or other appointed by the scheme manager) if required.
