Installing
green energy generating devices could become easier in Wales in the years to come thanks to efforts to cover the cost of attaining accreditation for suppliers of the equipment.
Environment minister Jane Davidson has outlined a variety of measures that should see small businesses find it more affordable to gain certification for green energy equipment installation, thanks to interest-free loans to cover the associated costs.
She says: "I believe that Wales should be at the forefront of the transition to a low carbon economy and want to make it as easy as possible for Welsh businesses to make the most of the opportunities associated with renewable energy."
The loans promise not only to finance the cost of gaining accreditation under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, but also to provide an expert to guide companies through the process so that they understand the issues involved.
By transitioning to renewable energy, Ms Davidson adds that environmental impacts of power consumption can be minimised and a dependence on oil supply be removed - bringing the factors at play in the nation's mains supply under total control.
Her comments coincide with the publication of figures by Communities and Local Government showing that new-build properties in Wales in recent months were marginally less eco-friendly than their counterparts in England.
Under the Standard Assessment Procedure, a rating of 100 is given to properties with zero net consumption of energy from the mains grid.
Less efficient homes receive a lower score, while those with on-site renewable energy facilities that generate more power than they use can actually achieve a rating of greater than 100.
Between April and June of 2010, the average score for a new-build dwelling in England was 79.5, rising to 80.1 in the most efficient category of property, which was houses.
Across the border, Welsh dwellings achieved an average of 78.6 on the rating scale, with flats performing best at 80.0.
