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From the Front Line

Renewable Heat Incentive

Posted by Jason Orme on 1st September 2010

Tough times for the green heating sector. Just six months ago the then-Government was announcing the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive which would pay people to generate their own heat at home, using renewables such as heat pumps and solar panels.

Originally intended for introduction in April 2011, the RHI was designed in part to simplify the subsidy paid to installers of these relatively expensive technologies. So one of the first things the new Government did in May - as part of its 'emergency' cuts - was to abolish the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, instantly doing away with any grants homeowners could enjoy. But heat pump buyers would still get the RHI cash, right?

Wrong. As of today it looks increasingly likely that the RHI will either not appear at all or, more probably, appear in a much changed form. With initial reports linking the changes to early findings from an Energy Saving Trust study on heat pumps that are less than sterling, it doesn't look particularly happy times for the heat pump world at the moment.

You can read more of the speculation on RGI here 

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Jason Orme

Jason Orme

Jason Orme has been the Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating for many years and has written on property and self-build matters for, amongst others, The Independent and The Telegraph. He self-built in 2004 and is looking for another plot.

Meet Jason Orme at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows.

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#1

RHI

Chris D (not verified)
Wed, 01/09/2010 - 22:02
Chris D's photo

Jason
The telegraph report is really a muddle and ill informed.
First the RHI covers many technologies, not just heat pumps, so the suggestion that the inconclusive findings from the INTERIM hp field trial report (due to be published next week) will scupper the RHI for all technologies is simply absurd.

The future of the RHI is indeed uncertain, most industry stakeholders believe it will happen but almost certainly in a revised form to the scheme consulted upon last year. This however is mainly due to concerns over how it will be funded as much as anything else.

As for the heat pump field trials, well people will have to make their own minds up once the report is published, but the industry very much welcomes the findings, most of which confirm what it has been saying for years regarding the need for correct application of the technology and comprehensive installer training. A number of sites have produced good results which demonstrates the technology does indeed work. Much of what has been learned from a number of less well performing installations is already being channelled back into installer training and education.

Worth remembering also that the trials are all on pre MCS installations.....

#2

Thanks for the

Jason Orme
Fri, 03/09/2010 - 08:36
Jason Orme's photo

Thanks for the clarification, Chris. I didn't mean to imply that heat pumps are the only part of the RHI - of course solar thermal is likely to be the most popular part - but the recent reports and leaks from the EST report just seem to be an extra bit of bad news.

For what it's worth, there is plenty of evidence - not least from our readership - that heat pumps do work very well indeed.

#3

biomass

Roger Croft (not verified)
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 17:50
Roger Croft's photo

Hi Jason

Of the projected take up biomass installations are expected to be the largest number and have the most impact!

Heat pumps can work really well - probably in a new house with underfloor heating. I think the report will suggest that retrofit is more difficult and where you can get inconsistencies. Heat pumps, if overworked do use a lot of electricity. It is not the fault of the equipment - more the installer.

A good list of installers is supposed to be http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/ - no spurs.

For further details on which technologies are presently included in the RHI see http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/rhi/rhi.aspx

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