Some 46 social landlords in the UK are set to receive part of a £7 million fund to install renewable heating systems into the homes of their tenants.

The funding was announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on Wednesday (July 24th) and was awarded to winners of a Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) competition. 

Social tenants will soon be able to benefit from technology such as solar thermal installations, biomass boilers, air and ground source heat pumps. 

Energy and climate change minister Greg Barker said that the government is "determined" to help UK residents with rising energy bills and the increasing costs of living. 

"This latest cash boost for social landlords will help install nearly 2,400 renewable heating technologies in the homes of social tenants, helping hard pressed families save money on their energy bills," Mr Barker said. 

One of the successful bidders was Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire. The local authority intends to install some 400 air source heat pumps for their portfolio of social houses. All winning housing groups will see the technology installed by the end of March 2014.

For landlords who missed out the first time around, a second phase of the competition is still open for bids. Mr Barker has moved to encouraged landlords to get involved with the scheme for the benefit of their tenants. 

Bidding for this part of the scheme will be available until September 27th this year, with applications made via the Energy Saving Trust's website. Winning bidders will see changes made by June next year. 

Landlords who are unsuccessful in their application, or who simply cannot apply, should not be put-off from installing energy-efficient technology in their property.

Schemes like the Renewable Heat Incentive, the feed-in tariff and the Green Deal could all be accessed to provide tenants with energy-efficient technology to battle the cost of rising utility bills and fuel poverty.