Partner organisation MCS presents its regular column for REI
Opinion
Changes afoot for
domestic RHI
MCS reminds installers of updates to the domestic RHI,
which came into force on February 05 2015
In April 2014, the government launched the domestic RHI scheme providing a financial
incentive for consumers using renewable heating systems. Based on experience
and feedback, DECC has made a number of amendments to the regulations. The
amendments are summarised below, but the full details can be found at
www.microgenerationcertification.org
•
High temperature heat pumps, that can operate at temperatures as high as
80c˚, are now eligible.
• Some cooker stoves are now eligible. The RHI defines ‘cooker stoves’ as
pellet biomass stoves with a back boiler that are predominantly designed for
space and hot water heating, but can also be used for cooking. If you have
a cooker stove that was installed before the amending regulations come
into force, you will have until July 31 2015 or 12 months after the date your
heating system was fully installed and tested (whichever is later), to apply.
• The regulations have been updated to refer to the new MCS standards for
heat pumps (MIS 3005) and solar thermal (MIS 3001), and an updated Heat
Emitter Guide (MCS 021).
• Clarification to make it clear that heating systems that provide heat to
properties with more than one building can be eligible for the domestic RHI.
• Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are now able to apply for the domestic
RHI without a GDA.
Installers must still ensure they are complying with all other installation and
product eligibility requirements. To find out if a product is eligible for the RHI, please
check Ofgem’s Product Eligibility List (www.ofgem.gov.uk).
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all installers of the upcoming
deadline for legacy installations, heating systems installed on or after July 15, 2009
and before April 9, 2014. All legacy applicants can now apply for the Domestic RHI but
they have until 8 April 2015 to submit their application(s).
So, 2015 is well underway and what progress
has been made? Nearly one year on the
launch of the domestic RHI has been very
encouraging for some technologies, though
less effective for others. We are seeing steady
growth in the domestic PV market which
should be welcomed by all. It is interesting
to reflect that the Feed- in Tariff scheme took
nearly 18 months to gain real traction so
perhaps we should be a little patient about
judging the efficacy of the RHI?
What is still very frustrating is the lack
of understanding and commitment to giving
domestic energy efficiency the visibility it
deserves. At the time of writing we have seen
statistics showing that in the EU, only Estonia
eclipses the UK in the number of households
spending twice the national average on fuel.
As the election approaches we can be sure
that energy prices will be a key factor.
The last published Energy Trends
showed that overall, renewable electricity
generation during the third quarter 2014 rose
24 percent year-on-year to 13.4 TWh, while
renewable electricity capacity jumped 19
percent to 23.1GW.
We must remain steadfast and clear
in our messages, that the ONLY way to
effectively manage consistently rising energy
bills is to use less energy. Don’t be deflected
by short term market blips, we all know that
energy bills will continue to rise as resources
come under pressure and infrastructure
investment increases.
Renewables can, and MUST form a
significant part of our integrated energy
future.
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk | 27