Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in Great Britain

The non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has been reviewed under various government consultations and their response was published in Dec 2013 called Non-domestic RHI – Improving Support, Increasing Uptake. During 2016 the UK government consulted to remove solar thermal from this schemes but this proposal was rejected just before 2017. The tariff rate for ST in the non-domestic RHI at the end of 2017 is 0.1044 GBP/kWh payable for 20 years and remained steady during 2017 with only minor adjustments for inflation according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Northern Ireland has a different Renewable Heat Incentive which remains suspended since 29 February 2016.
 
This table was set up by Chris Laughton, Founder and Managing Director of The Solar Design Company in Great Britain. 
 
 

Country / region

England, Wales and Scotland

Name of programme

Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Type of incentive

Payment to the end-user every ¼ year related to the quantity of renewable energy produced by the system

Eligible 

  • Solar thermal
  • Solid biomass
  • Ground-source heat pumps
  • Water-source heat pumps
  • Geothermal
  • Biogas combustion
  • Biomethane injection
  • Energy from waste
  • Air to water heat pumps
  • CHP system using biomass, biogas or waste

Applicable sectors

Non-domestic unless multiple dwellings i.e. industrial, commercial, public sector and non-profit organisations with eligible installations. This includes small businesses, hospitals and schools as well as district heating schemes where one installation serves multiple homes.

Amount

Different rates are paid according to technology and size. For solar thermal the initial rate in 2017 was 0.1044 Pound Sterling (GBP) per kWh for 20 years. Applicants who are already part of the scheme will receive their existing tariff adjusted annually by reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The rates for new applicants will be affected by degression in response to demand.

Maximum incentive

For solar thermal systems with less than 200 kWth

Requirements for system

  • The system must use liquid or steam to deliver the heat (i.e. no direct air heating).
  • The heat generated must be used for space or water heating in commercial buildings or for solar process heat applications.
  • At least 1 heat meter must be fitted.
  • Solar thermal collector to be certified from Solar Keymark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

Requirements for installation

Below 45 kWth, the installation must be carried out by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) registered installer.

Finance provider

Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) former Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

Total funds

GBP 860 million (for all technologies domestic and non-domestic)

Funding source

Public budget

Effective date

November 2011, some installations back-dated to 15 July 2009 were eligible

Expiration date

No closure date

Website

https://www.gov.uk/non-domestic-renewable-heat-incentive

Last review of this tabloid

November 2017

Contact

Apply online or enquiries via:
Telephone: 0044 / 300 003 2289
By email: rhi.enquiry@ofgem.gov.uk

 

Baerbel Epp

Bärbel Epp is Founder and Director of the German communication and market research agency solrico and editor-in-chief of solarthermalworld.org