A new and innovative U.K. government scheme launched April 9 will pay people for the green heat they generate for their homes.
The domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the world&rsquo;s first long-term financial support program for renewable heat, offering homeowners payments to offset the cost of installing low carbon systems in their properties.
The scheme is open to everyone &ndash; home owners, social and private landlords, and people who build their own homes. It is available to households both on and off the gas grid.
&ldquo;This is the first scheme of its kind in the world &ndash; showing yet again that the UK is leading the way in the clean energy sector,&rdquo; said Minister for Energy Greg Barker. &ldquo;Not only will people have warmer homes and cheaper fuel bills, they will reduce their carbon emissions, and will also get cash payments for installing these new technologies. It opens up a market for the supply chain, engineers and installers &ndash; generating growth and supporting jobs as part of our long-term economic plan.&rdquo;
The technologies currently covered by the scheme are:
- Biomass heating systems, which burn fuel such as wood pellets, chips or logs to provide central heating and hot water in a home. Biomass-only boilers are designed to provide heating using a &lsquo;wet system&rsquo; (eg through radiators) and provide hot water. Pellet stoves with integrated boilers are designed to burn only wood pellets and can heat the room they are in directly, as well as provide heat to the rest of the home using a &lsquo;wet system&rsquo; (eg through radiators) and provide hot water.
- Ground or water source heat pumps, which extract heat from the ground or water. This heat can then be used to provide heating and/or hot water in a home.
- Air to water heat pumps, which absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to provide heating and/or hot water in a home.
- Solar thermal panels, which collect heat from the sun and use it to heat up water which is stored in a hot water cylinder. The two types of panels that are eligible are evacuated tube panels and liquid-filled flat plate panels.
Only one space heating system is allowed per property but homeowners can apply for solar thermal for hot water and a space heating system.
The guaranteed payments are made quarterly over seven years for households in England, Wales and Scotland. (Northern Ireland has its own RHI scheme). The scheme is designed to bridge the gap between the cost of fossil fuel heat sources and renewable heat alternatives.
The Renewable Energy Association has already backed the scheme, and says its introduction could make 2014 a breakthrough year for renewable heating.
Mike Landy, head of on-site renewables at the REA, said, &ldquo;Domestic RHI is set to be one of the highlights of the Government&rsquo;s green agenda in 2014. It will mean that renewable home heating is not just environmentally sensible, but also financially attractive.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Minister for Energy Greg Barker with a Grants biomass boiler and Claire Perry MP. Grants is in Claire Perryâ€™s constituency.

2014/04/UKDECCDomesticRHI_13971669786481_largethumb.jpg

2014/04/UKDECCDomesticRHI_13971669786481_thumb.jpg

2014/04/UKDECCDomesticRHI_13971669786481.jpg

A new and innovative U.K. government scheme launched April 9 will pay people for the green heat they generate for their homes. The domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the world's first long-term financial support program for renewable heat. 

UK DECC officially launches domestic RHI

Related Stories

UK takes another step toward implementing SAF revenue certainty mechanism

Funding Forest Innovation: Leveraging the Wood Innovations Grant Program

A Black Pellet Resurgence and New Markets

SPOTLIGHT | CITGO: The True Cost of Grease Selection in Wood Pelleting

ENplus celebrates 15 years of setting the global standard for wood pellet quality

Upcoming Events

USIPA 2025 Conference

2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

UK DECC officially launches domestic RHI .css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}