Renewable Heat Incentive launches 9th April

matelodave

I've just heard that the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive is about to launch on Wednesday 9th April (or that's what the Sunday Times was predicting) and Greg Barker, the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change is Tweeting the Easter launch of the DRHI.:T
(sorry - I did mean to put a question mark after the heading just in case - I didn't want to get your hopes up too high)


So those who have been holding out can start to think that it might be real. I shall keep a very close eye on the Ofgem site https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/domestic-renewable-heat-incentive-domestic-rhi and putting in my application as soon as I can.
I'll keep you all informed of how many hoops, cartwheels and summersaults are required to qualify:rotfl:just to see if it's real.

It might be useful if others could post their experiences good, bad or indifferent, just to see if it really does happen and if the payments are worth the effort.

Smiley_Dan

You missed April Fools Day by about a week

matelodave

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

You missed April Fools Day by about a week

Yes, I did wonder about that that but - as it was in the Sunday Times I thought, well why not;), they aren't known for their levity.
Although I did have second thoughts when I found out that the Minister was tweeting about it as well:rotfl:

J_B

matelodave wrote: »

It might be useful if others could post their experiences good, bad or indifferent, just to see if it really does happen and if the payments are worth the effort.

I've helped a few friends doing their commercial applications.

Rather bizarrely, the folks at ofgem are *really* helpful-I know, most unusual for a government department!

You can press the submit button on the application and if you have something wrong, they will just send it back advising you what to do!!!

[Deleted User]

Yeah had an email from the EST about this earlier today.


Being a 'legacy install' looks like I will have to wait 3 months after scheme launch and get a Green Deal Assessment. I don't have a heat meter but that is optional and CBA anyway...


So much for Spring but at least it is finally happening


Cheers

lardconcepts

I got the message too - it's not entirely bursting with clarity, but hopefully this summary should be useful. I also have a question! See end of post...

If you can't find the required Energy Performance Certificate or don't know if you have one, enter your postcode here and you can download it.

https://www.epcregister.com/reportSearchAddressByPostcode.html

If you can't find your MCS certificate, search your email for "MCS" and an attachment filetype of PDF. If you still can't find it, email the installer - they will send another copy. Does anyone know of a place to download them? http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/ don't seem to offer this service.

Check your heat pump appears on this eligibility list - ensure you're looking at the right tab!
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87129/domesticrhiproducteligibilitylist.xlsx

More info:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/domestic-renewable-heat-incentive/installed-domestic-renewable-heat-incentive-opened

If you didn’t receive funding from the RHPP, you can apply immediately. This includes people who received the RHPP vouchers but didn’t use them.

If you did receive RHPP, we’ve staggered the date you can apply due to the expected large numbers:

If you applied for RHPP funding before 20 May 2013:

You will be able to apply three months after launch (from 9 July 2014).
If you applied for RHPP funding after 20 May 2013: You will be able to apply six months after launch (from 9 October 2014).
You must apply within a year of scheme opening (before 9 April 2015). Any later and you won’t be able to join.

And my question that I can't find answered in any FAQ...

Our energy performance certificate was done many years ago BEFORE we replaced the windows with double glazing and had significant roof insulation done (Kingspan to the max!).

We've currently got an F. Looking at the report, it's quite possible we'd be in E or even D. It looks like the RHI payments may be related to this, but I don't know if it would be better to get a new one done for £30, or whether it's better to let them think we require more heat than we do. I've been reading docs for 2 hours now so perhaps I'm starting to go boggle eyed and have missed this!

PS - so re-assuring to know that every site I visited related to this had the Chrome Heartbleed warning extension telling me that the sites were vulnerable. And that in 2014, the way to search is downloading a 4Mb XLS document and doing CTRL-F. Mmmm, overpaid IT consultants...

[Deleted User]

Hi all,
first post for me here.

Anyone tried to apply for RHI for BIOMASS today (first day of application)?

I tried and found it did not work as it looks like the data held by ofgem on my boiler (MCZ Compact Red 14) is incorrect.

When i apply I get "Unfortunately your application to join the Domestic RHI has not been successful We’ve checked your biomass heating system and it doesn’t meet the air quality standards in force at the time of its commissioning"

There is a link to a page on air quality, but the link does not work for me.

I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem.

I guess we can't expect too much as it has only taken 4 years to get the scheme up and running!



Cheers
Paul

gterr

jeepjunkie wrote: »

Yeah had an email from the EST about this earlier today.


Being a 'legacy install' looks like I will have to wait 3 months after scheme launch and get a Green Deal Assessment. I don't have a heat meter but that is optional and CBA anyway...


So much for Spring but at least it is finally happening


Cheers

Hiya Jeep,
Are you in my neck of the woods (North West Scotland) or have I got you mixed up with someone else? Just wondering how to find someone to do the Green Deal Assessment. I'm a 'legacy' install and don't have a meter either.

[Deleted User]

gterr wrote: »

Hiya Jeep,
Are you in my neck of the woods (North West Scotland) or have I got you mixed up with someone else? Just wondering how to find someone to do the Green Deal Assessment. I'm a 'legacy' install and don't have a meter either.

Hi Gterr,


Same country but I'm East Lothian


I'm not going to rush into getting a GDA. First I'm going to speak to some contacts to see if I can get a recommendation. Three months should be plenty of time to get everything sorted.


As someone pointed out I also have an old, 3 years, EPC which shows a high heat demand but doubt that would be accepted what with the launch of the Green Deal.


I guess what is annoying is the GDA will just point out the blinding obvious like cavity wall, loft insulation, energy efficient lighting & appliances, estimated running costs etc. But in order to qualify for the RHPP you had to have cavity wall and loft insulation [if suitable for your property] and this was inspected/confirmed visually by a contractor working on behalf of DECC. Indeed the MCS cert also shows 'estimated annual generation.' Again, our install was checked by whoever...


So here we go again, yet another assessor...


Cheers

gterr

jeepjunkie wrote: »

I guess what is annoying is the GDA will just point out the blinding obvious like cavity wall, loft insulation, energy efficient lighting & appliances, estimated running costs etc. But in order to qualify for the RHPP you had to have cavity wall and loft insulation [if suitable for your property] and this was inspected/confirmed visually by a contractor working on behalf of DECC. Indeed the MCS cert also shows 'estimated annual generation.' Again, our install was checked by whoever...


So here we go again, yet another assessor...


Cheers

Thanks Jeep.


Even worse for us: we are a self-build (2012) but our main contractor wasn't NHBC registered. We had a water-tight contract and insurance arranged by our project manager but this isn't acceptable to the powers that be. So, even though our house is built to modern regs with loads of insulation etc. and we've got all the drawings and such like, we are going to have to get a Green Deal assessment, and the assessor is going to struggle to find anything to recommend.


Yet another hurdle, and another cost. Ho hum. Better be worth it!

[Deleted User]

I'm getting the impression there are not that many applying for the Domestic RHI in this first wave. There seems to be problems with the data that OFGEM have on the various Biomass boilers. I had an email back to say they are having IT issues.

I will keep everyone posted as and when I hear.

Cheers
Paul