Around 1.5 million homes currently depend on heating oil in the UK, most of these homes are in rural areas off the gas grid. Oil fired central heating systems are set to all but disappear by 2025 and Ground Source and Air Source Heat Pumps are the technology of choice to replace them. By 2017, it is projected that Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps will have overtaken heating oil.

Ed Davey (Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change) said, "If we can increase the use of low carbon heating in our homes, businesses and across our economy, we can help reduce our dependence on costly carbon intense fossil fuels."

The Government Are Incentivising Homeowners To Switch To Renewables

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has been designed to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy in the home. It will generate an annual income paid directly to the homeowner at a fixed rate for the heat expected to be produced by the installed renewable energy system. The RHI will replace the existing RHPP scheme.

The switch from, for example, an oil boiler powered heating system to an RHI eligible Air Source Heat Pump is quite simple: The existing radiator system can remain in place, the boiler is removed and a Heat Pump and new cylinder are installed to replace it with minimal disruption. The Heat Pump provides all of the hot water and heating needs of the home.

RHI For Householders Will Be Up And Running In Spring 2014

Following on from the consultation on scheme design in September last year, the Government will confirm how the RHI for householders will work and publish the tariff levels in Summer 2013, until then calculations of what a homeowner is expected to receive are based upon a proposed rate range. The Ecovision calculators use the mid point of that range to work out the proposed returns. It is expected that the scheme will be up and running for householders in Spring 2014.

Heat Pumps installed now will be included in the scheme

Many homeowners who have taken advice from professionally accredited renewable energy companies like Ecovision are installing now to beat the expected rush and probable shortfall of installation capability across the UK once the rate is announced. Click here to contact us with any questions.

What Renewable Energy Systems the RHI Will Cover

The scheme will be for consumers looking to replace their current heating system with a supported renewable heat technology and consumers who have installed a renewable heat technology since 15 July 2009. We (govt.) are proposing support for the following technologies, which have been certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme:

• Air Source Heat Pumps that heat water (ie air-to-water heat pumps)
• Biomass Boilers
• Ground Source Heat Pumps
• Solar Thermal Systems

RHPP Grant Extension

It has recently been announced that the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme is being extended until the end of March 2014, ahead of the launch of the RHI for householders. This scheme, first launched in July 2011, offers money off the cost of renewable heating kit such as biomass boilers, solar thermal panels and heat pumps and is largely targeted at those living off the gas grid. The scheme was due to close at the end of March this year.

RHPP Grant: for Air Source is £850 and Ground Source is £1250

"Many homes and businesses across the UK have already switched away from fossil fuels and are using kit like biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar thermal panels to provide heat, thanks to Government support, and I want to ensure even more householders and organisations get on board." Ed Davey

Use our calculators to work out how much income you could receive from the proposed RHI simply by using Air or Ground Source Heat Pumps to heat your home and hot water:

• Air Source Heat Pump Calculator
• Ground Source Heat Pump Calculator

Ecovision has installed over 5,000 renewable energy systems nationwide

Ecovision was the first heat pump installer in the UK to be awarded full accreditation by the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme. They are also members of REAL and have repeatedly won awards for their work from the British Construction Industry Association and the National Heat Pump Awards. Click here to contact us with any questions