Renewable Heat Incentive and RHPP

Renewable Heat Subsidy Basics

The Renewable Heat Premium Payments are a one off grant towards the cost of installing a renewable heat generation technology in your home, such as a heat pump. The grant is between £300-£1,250 depending on the technology. This grant is currently available to any home using a suitable fuel system, and will be available until the Renewable Heat Incentive is phased in in Spring 2014.

The Renewable Heat Incentive is a regular payment you will receive from the government per unit of heat you generate using your renewable heat generation technology. You will be paid quarterly for 7 years, by which time the technology should have paid for itself. This scheme is currently under consultation by the government and final details will be available from Summer 2013, with a launch in Spring 2014. If you qualify for the RHPP you will qualify for the RHI when it is implemented.

Administering the Renewable Heat Subsidies

The scheme has been introduced in two phases.

1. In the first phase, it consisted of two parts;

a. Long-term tariff support has been targeted in the non-domestic sectors, at the big heat users – the industrial, business and public sector – which contribute 38% of the UK’s carbon emissions.

b. There has also been support of around £15 million for households through the Renewable Heat Incentive Premium Payments.

2. The second phase of the RHI scheme will see it expanded to include more technologies as well as support for households. This transition is proposed to happen in Spring 2014.

Estimate how much you can reduce your heating costs

FAQs

How do I apply for a Renewable Heat Premium Payment?

The scheme opened to applications on 1st August 2011. You can apply online by going to the Energy Saving Trust website (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/RHPP). Your should ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. It is very important that those with vouchers check they have met all the conditions on that voucher, as claims may not be paid if the scheme terms and conditions and the terms on the voucher have not been met. Receiving a voucher is not sufficient evidence that you are entitled to a grant.

What are the Renewable Heat Premium Payment eligibility criteria?

The main criteria are as follows:

• Applicants must be the owners of or reside in the property for which the grant is applied (alternatively applicants who have leasehold ownership or tenancy occupation must have permission from the property freeholder) and it must be their primary residence.
• For heating systems other than solar thermal, this must be the main heating system in the house.
• The installation address must be situated in England, Scotland or Wales (the scheme is not available to addresses in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) and must be the applicant primary residence or a property occupied for the majority of the year.
• Eligible technologies are Solar Thermal Hot Water, Air to water source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps, water to water heat pumps and biomass fuelled boilers (eg wood or wood pellet). Air to air heat pumps, wood fuelled stoves (unless they are part of a system with a back boiler) and bioliquid fuelled systems are not eligible for this scheme.
• Solar Thermal Hot Water systems will be available to all householders.
• For other technologies applicants must not currently use mains gas supply for their heating system.
• Applicants must use a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificated installer (www.microgenerationcertification.org) and product or equivalent.
• Renewable heating systems must supply a permanent residential building (mobile homes, caravans, house boats and systems heating swimming pools only are not eligible).
• Basic energy efficiency measures must have been installed at the installation address (loft insulation up to 250mm where appropriate, cavity wall insulation where practicable).
• Applicants must have received all relevant permissions for the installation including planning permission where required. If in doubt, please confirm with your local authority whether planning permission is required.

What is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)?

The RHI will provide payments over a set period of time to generators of renewable heat. It starts in September 2011 for industrial, commercial and public sector installations and Government has announced its intention to make support under the scheme available to households in Autumn 2012.

Will I need planning permission for my installation or to notify my Local Authority?

Most installations are now classed as permitted development which means planning permission is not needed, but this will depend on the technology you are installing and where you live. Please check with your Local Authority before proceeding to ensure you have all of the correct permissions required and see further information on Planning Permission.

Are biomass hot air systems or wood burning stoves eligible?

No, only biomass systems which heat water to provide space heating are eligible. However, if your wood burning stove provides the main heating source through a back boiler, it will be eligible. Please be aware that Government is currently considering whether biomass stoves, even where they are the main heating source through a back boiler, will be supported under the long-term Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). At this stage, there is no guarantee that they will be. DECC will be consulting on support for domestic participants in due course.

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