Excluded technologies

Certain heat technologies will not be eligible for Phase 1 and others will be excluded from the Renewable Heat Incentive altogether

Not eligible for Phase 1

The following energy sources have been omitted from Phase 1 of the scheme. However the government intends to reconsider them in time for Phase 2 in 2012:

• Air Source Heat Pumps
• Direct air heating
• Large solar thermal (above 200 kW)
• Large biogas (above 200 kW)
• Biogas from landfill gas
• Bioliquids

They may also in Phase 2 set a separate tariff for deep geothermal (which at present is rated in the same band as ground source heat pumps).

Excluded systems and technologies

The RHI does not currently support used or reconditioned systems.

The following have also been specifically excluded from the RHI as they are not considered eligible renewable energy sources:

• Co-firing of biomass with fossil fuel (why?)
• Exhaust air heat pumps (why?)
• Transpired solar thermal panels (why?)
• Fossil fuel fired CHP (why?)
• Waste heat from fossil fuel (why?)

Restricted technologies

There are specific restrictions on those technologies that are eligible for the RHI.

To see what these are, check out the Eligible Energy Sources page. This will show why, for example, the following are not eligible:

• Biomass appliances, which can also use non-renewable fuels (such as coal)
• Heat pumps with a coefficient of performance under 2.9
• Waste-to-energy systems using fuels other than MSW
• Renewable heat installations below 45kWth, which are not MCS accredited.