Relief as Government plans to axe solar thermal from RHI are scrapped
News
The Government has dropped plans to remove solar thermal from the Renewable Heat Incentive ( RHI ) and at the same time has increased the level of support the scheme provides to heat pumps , biomass and green gas technology . In the Government ’ s official response to its reform consultation , Energy Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe confirmed the RHI will continue for the four technologies currently supported by the scheme . The 116-page statement included details of a fresh financing model and a number of tariff increases , including : * The tariffs for new ASHPs and GSHPs to be increased to 10.02 pence per kilowatthour ( p / kWh ) and 19.55p / kWh respectively . * All new ASHPs and GSHPs applying for support will be required to have electricity metering to monitor their heating system . * GSHPs making use of a shared ground loop will continue to be eligible for the nondomestic scheme and will not be eligible on the domestic scheme . * The tariff for new biomass installations will be increased to 6.44p / kWh , the level available between October and December 2015 , adjusted for inflation . * Heat demand limits will be introduced , to limit the level of annual heat demand in respect of which any household can receive support . The heat demand limits will be set at 20,000kWh for ASHPs , 25,000kWh for biomass boilers and stoves and 30,000kWh for GSHPs . However , this will not disqualify properties with higher heat demands from applying to the scheme . There will be no heat demand limit for solar thermal . The tariffs stated in the response document are in 2016 / 17 prices and do not take account of any inflationary adjustments which will be made to tariffs on 1 April 2017 .
The Government also intend to introduce the option for households to assign their rights to payments through the scheme to a third party . However , this will not be delivered alongside the spring 2017 reforms . The Government now intends that this will be implemented at a later date , to provide extra time to implement adequate consumer protection . This reform will make way for new financing models to develop – for example , where a household receives a free or substantially reduced-cost heating system from a third party in return for assigning their rights to RHI payments to this third party . The reforms also introduce a cap to the annual payments for new domestic biomass systems to make sure owners of larger properties are not overcompensated - there will be similar caps in place for new heat pumps . Alongside this , there will be a slight increase to the tariff for new domestic biomass systems . The Solar Trade Association ( STA ), which had mounted a concerted effort to oppose the initial proposals published last March welcomed the announcement . Paul Barwell , STA Chief Executive commented : “ Solar thermal is back , which is great news for businesses and families who want to bring down their energy bills and do their bit to mitigate climate change . It is to the new Energy Department ’ s credit that they listened to the very strong arguments we made for retaining solar thermal within the RHI .” The move reflects the robust case the STA put forward on the importance of solar thermal technology , which boasts even greater installed capacity globally than solar PV . Retaining solar thermal will also help to alleviate fuel poverty as well as efforts to reach the Government ’ s own target of 12 per cent renewable heat by 2020 . Solar thermal ’ s reinstatement in the RHI means there is a great opportunity for growth in a sector that already boasts some of the most advanced manufacturing in the world . With the RHI a typical business user will be able to earn back the cost of their installation within seven years ; without the RHI it would have been 21 years , which would have prevented investment .
Endurance Wind Power goes into administration
The UK subsidiaries of Endurance Wind have been place into administration following the collapse of its Canadian parent company . Sarah O ’ Toole and Eddie Williams of Grant Thornton UK have been appointed administrators of Endurance Wind Power ( UK ) Ltd and Endurance Mftg ( UK ) Limited . The companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Endurance Inc which is located in Vancouver , Canada . The companies , which employ 45 people , install and maintain wind turbines in a number of locations across the country with a manufacturing facility in Hartlebury , Worcestershire . There are about 900 Endurance turbines in operation in the United Kingdom ( pictured left ), mostly the 50 kW E-series model , in addition to several of the 225 kW X-series
www . renewableenergyinstaller . co . uk | 5