The RHI or Renewable Heating Incentive has eventually been launched by the government.

Wednesday saw the heavily anticipated launch of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The new government scheme will pay people for the green heat they generate for their homes, offering homeowners payments to offset the cost of installing low carbon systems.

In essence the government will pay domestic homeowners the following cash back;-

Technology Tariff
Air-source heat pumps 7.3p/kWh
Ground and water-source heat pumps 18.8p/kWh
Biomass-only boilers and biomass pellet stoves with integrated boilers 12.2p/kWh
Solar thermal panels (flat plate and evacuated tube for hot water only) 19.2 p/kWh

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, such as the Viessmann Vitoligno 300-P shown here with a large pellet hopper system.

Biomass-only boilers are designed to provide heating using a ‘wet system’ (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 ‘wet system’ (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.

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. For further details about the scheme including eligibility criteria and how to apply visit: http://bit.ly/1gNMTb0

The Energie – Solar thermodynamic system would also qualify for the incentive when it is used to heat the living spaces via an underfloor heating circuit.

Macoun are “F”-Gas qualified to fit these systems, for more information click on – http://bit.ly/1tt1KR3