How well do you know the renewable energy options available to you? Whether you’re a homeowner or a commercial property owner, you may be surprised by the number of alternatives to traditional central heating that are now available in the UK. As the costs associated with gas and heating continue to become more expensive, eco-friendly heating alternatives such as heat pumps are looking more promising than ever.
Whether your interest in renewable commercial heating comes from this or the increasing need to reduce carbon emissions, it can be challenging to know where to start. If you’re interested in making this switch but not sure where to start, let Accurate Mechanical Services introduce you to the Renewable Heat Incentive.
What is the Renewable Heat Incentive?
Suppose you’re one of the many people across the UK who haven’t heard of it before. In that case, the Renewable Heat Incentive (otherwise referred to as the RHI) is a scheme created by the UK Government to help the country reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The RHI is currently running and accepting applicants in England, Scotland and Wales, whether or not their property is on the national gas grid.
There are two versions of the RHI currently in place. One is for residential homes, and the other is for all other types of properties, including commercial and industrial buildings. There was also a scheme available in Northern Ireland, but it closed for applicants in 2016.
The Renewable Heat Incentive aims to make sustainable energy alternatives available and affordable for people across the UK. How does this work?
How Does the RHI Scheme Work?
You’re able to sign up for the Renewable Heat Incentive if your property is based in England, Scotland or Wales and you decide to install (or have already installed) an eligible type of renewable heating. By doing this, you could receive quarterly payments from the UK Government for seven years, which is offered to help offset the increased costs of switching from industrial heating systems such as oil or gas boilers.
These quarterly payments are calculated based on every kilowatt hour (kWh) of heat your renewable heating systems create. You can estimate the amount that you’ll be paid by learning about your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating and by following the guidelines for the specific type of renewable technology you’re using.
The last point brings the following question into focus – which technologies are eligible?
Which Commercial Heating Systems are Eligible?
Whilst all types of property can benefit from this scheme, commercial buildings such as offices and other workplaces could see an enormous positive impact from using sustainable heating. If the potential boost in energy efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions is appealing to you, the types of commercial heating systems that are eligible for the RHI include:
- Air source heat pumps
- Ground source heat pumps
- Biomass boilers
- Solar water heating
Accurate Mechanical Services can install, service and repair air source heat pumps. If you’d like more information about how commercial heat pumps work, click this link to read one of our previous blog posts.
How to Apply for the RHI Scheme
If you’re interested in applying for this scheme, you need to do so quickly, as the end date for Renewable Heat Incentive applications is 31st March 2022. To apply, you need to be either the owner-occupier of your property, a social or private landlord, or a self-builder.
Once you’ve decided that you want to apply for the Renewable Heat Incentive and you’re able to prove that you fit the scheme’s criteria, you can follow these four steps to complete your application:
- Check you have a valid EPC that is no more than two years old and reflects the current state of your property.
- Check that your chosen commercial heating option is eligible for the scheme and that it’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified.
- You also need to ensure that your chosen commercial heating engineer is MCS certified and understand all the quality standards that need to be adhered to.
- Fill out the RHI application form and submit it to Ofgem. This is free to do, so ensure that you apply using the Ofgem website rather than a third party who will charge you unnecessarily.
Speak to Commercial Heating Engineers Today
If you’re interested in adding an air source heat pump to your home or replacing a commercial boiler with a sustainable alternative, contact the friendly and experienced team at Accurate Mechanical Services. They will be happy to help with every step of the process of adding sustainable heating to your property.