RHI – What is the Renewable Heat Incentive?

During April 2012, the Government announced the actual tariff details of the Renewable Heat Incentive policy to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used. This is the first financial support scheme for renewable heat of its kind in the world.

The RHI is being administered by Ofgem E-Serve. More information on the administration of the RHI can be found on the Ofgem E-Serve: Renewable Heat Incentive [External link] web pages. The Ofgem E-Serve Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) accreditation enquiries line is also open to deal with questions on applications and eligibility. The team can be contacted on 0845 200 2122 between 8:30am until 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:30am until 4:30pm on Fridays. Alternatively, you can send an email to RHI.Enquiry@Ofgem.gov.uk. Complicated enquiries are best handled in writing via email.

The Renewable Heat Incentive is similar to the Solar PV Feed-in Tariffs scheme for electricity which went live in April 2010. While the Renewable Heat Incentive is similar to the Solar PV Feed-In Tariff scheme there are two main differences:

• The RHI scheme is funded by the Treasury not by energy users
• There is no feed in process to the National Grid for Heat generated
• Fixed payments are made on the basis of output, type of technology and the size of the renewable energy system (Heat Pump, Biomass Boiler etc)