Our ‘Boffin’s Guide’ to the RHI

All the background documents you might need when you’ve read the other details on this website

Firstly, have you read the rest of this website? If not go away and do that first – it’s the most comprehensive analysis you’ll find of the UK’s Renewable Heat Incentive.

Make use of the Search function top right on each page, and of our extensive FAQs section. The government has also published an FAQs document.

Administration of the Feed-In Tariffs

The scheme is administered by Ofgem who publish guidance documents:

• Volume 1 on eligibility and registration, and Volume 2 on metering and payments
• Before publishing the final versions, Ofgem consulted on the proposed guidance:
• With draft versions of Volume 1 and Volume 2
• Presentations by Ofgem staff on the scheme.

Ofgem has also published a ‘factsheet‘ on its responsibilities and a ‘leaflet‘ on the scheme.

Elibility criteria

In addition to the Ofgem guidance above, some systems have specific eligibility criteria, including

• Systems up to 45kWth are subject to certification under the MCS
• Combustion systems have to meet air quality criteria.

Background to the legislation

Here are the originals of the primary documents which have led to the introduction of the Feed-In Tariffs

The Energy Act 2008

The industry blueprint for the Feed-In Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentive

The initial consultation and related documents:

• Consultation document
• Consultants’ proposals on the design of the RHI
• The earlier consultants’ report on renewable heat
• The consultants’ report on biomass prices
• The consultants’ report on CHP modelling

The adopted initial design of the FITs in March 2011 and related documents:

• RHI initial design and the table of Phase 1 tariffs
• The Regulatory Impact Assessment and Annex
• Consultants’ report on heat metering
• Updated consultants’ report on renewable heat
• The proposed modifications to the Energy Act (revised biogas definition)
• The government didn’t consult again on these but said it would listen to any responses. The REA prepared some detailed comments available here.

At the same time, DECC also published a set of questions and answers.

The Statutory Instrument putting these arrangements into action

• was published in draft in June 2011
• and the proposed legislation was laid in parliament on 20th June
• it was then revised and the updated statutory instrument laid on 25th October

Our input to the regulatory process

• Our consultation response

The 2010 Coalition Government

The government appointed in May 2010 expressed strong support for renewables.

Their Coalition Programme makes specific references to renewables and related issues on pages 16 and 17.

Public Spending Review 2010

This reconfirmed the government’s commitment to introduce and fund the RHI. The timetable and some other details have moved on since.