Information on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

The long-awaited RHI has finally been confirmed, and is being introduced in 2 phases, with the initial tariff support available for non-domestic systems only. The tariff for solar thermal is 8.5p/kWh and is available for capacities less than 200 kWth.

For domestic installations, an up-front Renewable Heat Premium payment, to offset the installation cost, will be made available to households meeting certain requirements. (eg. an Energy Performance Certificate that shows the house is properly insulated.) Domestic installations are those where a renewable heating installation serves a single private residential dwelling only.

The second phase, to come into play in October 2012, will include long-term support for the domestic sector in the form of a similar, tariff-based system for domestic properties. This will hopefully come in with a slightly higher tariff and will be introduced in 2012 to coincide with the 'Green Deals for Homes' scheme.

When the domestic tariffs are introduced in October 2012, they will be available to all eligible renewable heat installations that have taken place since 15th July 2009, although payments will not be retrospective.

For guidance on eligibility for the RHI, please see our FAQ, or visit the Ofgem website.

On 21st July 2011 the Government announced its new £15 million Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme. This is an interim measure for householders and domestic properties until the second phase of the RHI comes into effect.

 

The RHPP scheme is open for applications from 1st August 2011 until March 2012 and which they anticipate will support up to 25,000 installations. £3m of the £15m will be set aside for registered social landlords to improve their housing stock.

Eligible technologies

Solar thermal hot water panels - £300 grant (available to all households regardless of the type of heating system used)
Ground Source Heat Pump - £1250 grant (for homes without mains gas heating)
Biomass boiler - £950 grant (for homes without mains gas heating)
Air source heat pump - £850 grant (for homes without mains gas heating)

Householders can apply to the Energy Saving Trust (EST) from 1st August 2011. The house must be the main home and it must have basic energy efficiency measures in place. This means the householder will need to confirm they have loft insulation to 250mm and cavity wall insulation, where these measures are practical.

Once the equipment is up and running, the householder will be asked to fill in two customer surveys and may be chosen at random to have extra meters attached to the installation which will be provided free of charge. It is a condition of the scheme that if requested, these meters be installed.

For more details, please see the EST website here.