Non-domestic scheme consultation
In September 2012 the government consulted on proposals to extend the non-domestic scheme of the RHI
The following details give our first rough overview. For a fuller assessment, come back in a few days time, or see the government's web-page on this consultation.
Consultation documents
The consultation documents included: The consultation, which closes on 7th December 2012, a regulatory impact assessment with annex, and description and spreadsheet on the calculation of tariff levels.
Main proposals
Added eligible technologies
The government proposes to add the following:
| Technology | Size |
Potential tariff (p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pumps | All | 0.97p |
| Biomass direct air heating | <1MWth | 2.1p |
| >1MWth | 1p (or less) | |
| Biogas combustion | 200kW - 500kW | 5.9p |
| >500kW | 2.2p | |
| Biomass CHP | All | 4.1p |
| Bioliquid CHP | All | 4.1p |
| Deep geothermal (>500m) | All | 5.0p |
It also wants to review these other technologies and will issue 'calls for evidence':
- Landfill gas
- Ground source heat pumps (already eligible, but to be reviewed)
- Biopropane
- Large biomass (>1MW)
- Solar thermodynamic
- Active solar air heating
Other changes
The government is considering introducing energy efficiency requirements. These would not apply to process heat. District heating could be aligned with those for the domestic RHI scheme based on the Green Deal Industrial and commercial heat users might be allowed the choice of a range of alternative methods to demonstrate their energy efficiency.
The government will revisit the definition of solid biomass with respect to eligibility.
The government intends to allow amendments to conditions of accreditation after an installation has been accepted onto the scheme (this sounds contentious!).
