Greg Barker

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has unveiled details of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and related tariff levels in an effort to encourage the use of renewable heat technologies across the UK.

The new scheme is expected to provide financial support to households for the installation of renewable heating technologies.

The tariff levels, which will be available from mid-2014, include 7.3p/kWh for air source heat pumps, 12.2p/kWh for biomass boilers, 18.8p/kWh for ground source heat pumps and at least 19.2p/kWh for solar thermal.

The DECC has designed the RHI scheme as a financial incentive to encourage the domestic uptake of renewable energy, to cut carbon emission, help meet renewables targets and save money on bills.

According to the DECC, the scheme will be made available to homeowners, private and social landlords, third party owners of heating systems and people who build their own homes.

"The DECC has designed the RHI scheme as a financial incentive to encourage the domestic uptake of renewable energy, to cut carbon emission, help meet renewables targets and save money on bills."

The scheme has been running for the non-domestic sector since November 2011, and will be now available for anyone who has installed a renewable heat technology since 15 July 2009 and meets the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

Applicants who wish to claim RHI rates will need to complete a Green Deal assessment and ensure that they have met minimum loft (250mm) and cavity wall insulation requirements, where appropriate.

UK Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said investing for the long term in new renewable heat technologies will mean cleaner energy and cheaper bills.

"Householders can now invest in a range of exciting heating technologies knowing how much the tariff will be for different renewable heat technologies and benefit from the clean green heat produced," Barker said.

The DECC said that it is currently finalising the details of the expansion of the non-domestic RHI scheme and will confirm the way forward later this year alongside the outcome of the tariff review.

Image: UK Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker. Photo: courtesy of the Department of Energy & Climate Change.

Energy