Renewable Energy Installer February 2014 | Page 34

Knowledge: DECC Interview
Question time
REI speaks exclusively to Patrick Allcorn, head of RHI at the Department of
Energy and Climate Change (DECC), about all aspects of the domestic RHI ahead
of its imminent and hotly anticipated launch
Q1
Are we any closer to a definite
introduction date for the
domestic RHI?
The scheme is still on track to be launched in
the spring of 2014. We cannot be more precise
at this time as the remaining legislative steps
are not within our gift. We appreciate the
uncertainty this creates, and are working hard
to clear the remaining legislative hurdles as
soon as possible. As soon as we have a date
for launch, we will make an announcement.
Q2
What will be done to promote
it?
We are currently busy organising a series of
events building up to the launch. We will be
attending a series of tradeshows up and down
the country to talk directly to installers and
consumers. This will include presentations
from DECC and Ofgem, as well as Q&A
sessions and ‘ask the expert’ areas. More
details of exactly where and when these
will take place will be confirmed soon, but
we hope to speak to as many installers and
consumers as possible.
Q3
With the RHPP due to expire in
March, is there an argument to
retain it to assist with upfront costs?
There are no plans to extend the scheme
Courtesy of Viridian Solar
Number crunching: DECC estimates that its
budget can support 35,000 installations under
the domestic RHI within the first 12 months of
the scheme
34 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
once the RHI has been launched. The RHPP
was extended in March 2013 and so far
has supported over 17,000 renewable heat
installations, with several thousands more
expected this year in private and social
housing. The scheme will close on March
31 2014 and householders are encouraged
to apply now before it’s too late. For further
information visit the Energy Saving Trust
website.
Q4
Miss-selling of heat
technologies has the danger of
leaving homeowners cold and with large
heating bills. Are you strengthening the
penalties to ensure that there is a clear
deterrent to such behaviour?
Certification of both products and installers
in line with the Microgeneration Certification
Scheme (MCS) or equivalent scheme is a
key condition of the RHI. This ensures that
people who buy renewable heating systems
are covered by consumer protection schemes
governing the products and their performance,
as well as the quality of the installation
and service they receive from the installer.
Consumer protection is provided jointly by the
MCS product and installer standards and the
Renewable Energy Consumer Code.
Q5
What safeguards have you
put in place to ensure that the
software used for the metering and
monitoring packages is accurate?
We do not consider that there is a high
risk that data platforms will intentionally
manipulate data. However, the requirements
for viewing platforms are inside MCS’s
Domestic RHI metering guidance, which is
referenced in the MCS solar thermal, biomass
and heat pump installer standards, and
therefore falls under the surveillance regimes
of MCS Certification Bodies. In addition,
customers will be able to compare the
information on their meter display with what
is being presented on the data platform they
are viewing.
Q6
Will householders be able to
access their data online and are
there guidelines that ensure it is easy
for them to understand and interpret,
so that they are not wholly reliant on
installers to explain it to them?
Yes, householders will be able to access their
data from Metering and Monitoring Service
Packages (MMSP)s online. Our regulations and
the MCS domestic RHI metering guidance
set minimum standards for what must be
presented. Customers with MMSPs will
also be able to request all of the information
collected by the MMSP in case they want an
independent person to look at it.
Q7
Are rates of return compelling
enough for landlords where
savings on running costs are accrued by
the tenant?
Actual rates of return for a given installation
will vary depending on the precise
circumstances – type of technology, what is
being replaced, occupancy and lifestyle of the
homeowner and so on. It’s right to say that in
the case of landlords any fuel cost savings will
most likely benefit the tenant. There are many
reasons why landlords (particularly in the
social housing sector) might chose to install
renewable heat in their properties, financial
return being just one of those. DECC is keen
to see widespread take-up of the RHI in social
housing and will work with the sector to
remove any barriers.
Q8
Dis-incentivising landlords
will surely do little to alleviate
fuel poverty. Does the policy take into
account that installation costs per kW
will be much higher for smaller social
housing properties than in larger private
properties?