Launch of the RHI
Dear member,
We have now been informed by DECC that the RHI will open from Monday 28 November. It’s been a long road since the REA led the campaign to have the legal powers for the RHI added to the Energy Act 2008, with a huge amount of input from our members along the way, for which we are sincerely grateful.
At the risk of going down memory lane, this included:
• the ‘tariff blueprint’ for the FITs and RHI we presented to the (then) minister in spring 2009
• the ‘heating is half the problem’ campaign we led in Autumn 2010 to make sure the RHI received funding in the comprehensive spending review after it was omitted from the coalition agreement
• a 60-page response to the 2010 consultation, including a great deal of cost modelling for many technologies – this was organised via a series of technology working groups, often feeding in directly to DECC
• detailed scrutiny of the Ofgem’s guidance and the regulations themselves, both of which are significantly improved as a result of the REA’s input
There remains a great deal to do for phase 2. We have a flurry of meetings coming up with the RHI team and will come back to the relevant sector groups to agree how we take this forward.
For more details of the scheme launch, please see the DECC statement below:
Dear stakeholder,
I am pleased to inform you that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for industrial, commercial, public sector and not-for-profit and community installations will open its doors for applications from Monday 28 November 2011. This follows the successful passage of the revised RHI Regulations through Parliament this week.
The start of the scheme follows a short delay from the planned 30 September launch date while we resolved the scheme’s compatibility with EU state aid rules. Approval of the scheme by the European Commission was given on the condition that the large biomass tariff was reduced from 2.7p per kWh to 1p per kWh. In order to minimise the impact of this condition we decided to implement the Commission’s decision and redraft the Regulations, which then had to be submitted for Parliamentary approval.
If you are interested in applying for support under the scheme you will need to contact Ofgem who are responsible for administering the scheme. More information about how to apply, as well as detailed Guidance documents to support you through this process, is available on their website at www.ofgem.gov.uk/rhi. Alternatively you can contact their enquiries centre on 0845 200 2122 or by email to RHI.Enquiry@ofgem.gov.uk.
Further information about the policy underpinning the scheme can be found on our website at www.decc.gov.uk/rhi.
If you are interested in the opportunities available for householders, the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme is already up and running. This scheme provides money off renewable heat technologies for householders. Vouchers are still available - householders have until 31st March next year to apply. Please contact the Energy Saving Trust (EST) if you are interested in applying for support under this scheme on 0800 512 012 or by visiting their website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/rhpp.
There will also be support for householders under the second phase of the RHI, the timing of which will be confirmed early
