The SNP Government’s Area Based Scheme (ABS) has been increased from £55 million to £64 million in 2021/22, enabling North Ayrshire Council and every local authority in Scotland to more effectively tackle fuel poverty and deliver energy efficiency measures to fuel poor households and communities.
The extra £9 million of funding this year represents a 16.3% increase and will support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and help fuel poor households save money on their heating bills.
North Ayrshire Council has already been awarded more than £3.5 million from the scheme since its inception in 2019, to help it administer energy efficiency and fuel poverty projects.
The work forms part of a £1.6 billion investment over the next five years to transform the heat and energy efficiency of buildings. The SNP Government’s draft Heat in Buildings strategy sets out a vision for more than one million homes to be using low and zero emissions heating systems by 2030.
ABS projects have helped deliver energy efficiency improvements to more than 100,000 homes since the programme launched in 2013. That has generated cumulative savings for household fuel bills worth over £900 million while reducing CO2 emissions by over 3.4 million tonnes.
Local ABS projects plan to install low and zero emissions heating systems in more than 500 homes this year, as well as insulation and other improvements such as solar panels and battery storage.
Net Zero and Energy Secretary Michael Matheson MSP said:
“Reducing emissions from heating our homes is one of the most important things we can do to ensure we become a net-zero society by 2045. It will require us all to take action and everyone across Scotland will need to play their part in making sure our homes and buildings are fit for a net-zero future.
“We are committed to rapidly scaling-up action, but doing so in a way that ensures that our fuel poverty objectives and our commitment to tackling climate change work together, ensuring a fair and just transition to net zero.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“Projects in North Ayrshire have already benefitted from over £3.5 million in funding so far, and I am delighted that available resources have been increased.
“Fuel poverty is real and in addition, most of us appreciate that there is a need to be energy efficient.
“This funding will therefore continue to support on-the-ground delivery of projects, making a tangible difference to people’s communities and lives on a day to day basis.”
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