What is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)?

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a government financial incentive to encourage a switch to renewable heating systems.  Those who have renewable heating technologies installed on their property will receive quarterly payments for seven years.

The scheme is available for households both off and on the gas grid.  The eligible renewable heating system types for the RHI are:
 

• biomass only boilers & biomass pellet stoves

• air source heat pumps

• ground source heat pumps

• solar thermal panels - flat plate or evacuated tube only

The RHI differs from the Feed-in-Tariff  - which pays for electricity generated as well as exported to the national grid - by paying for just the energy predicted to be saved by their introduction.  For most, payments are made on an estimation of your heating system’s annual heat use. For biomass and heat pump systems this is taken from the heat load figure on the EPC. For solar thermal, the figure calculated by your MCS installer is used.

To be eligible for the RHI, your installation must be carried out by a registered MCS Installer accredited to install your chosen technology and the product used must be MCS Certified.

For more information on financial rewards and up to date tariffs please visit www.ofgem.co.uk.