Value of vouchers raised for four key technologies as government looks to link renewable heat scheme with Green Deal
Payments to householders who switch to selected greener heating systems are to double, the government announced yesterday.
Vouchers available under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme have been increased to £2,300 for ground source heat pumps, £2,000 for biomass boilers, £1,300 for air source heat pumps and £600 for solar thermal systems.
The increase in the value of the grants is designed to cover the cost of a Green Deal energy efficiency assessment, which householders will have to undergo before they can redeem the vouchers through the Energy Saving Trust.
Nearly a fifth of the UK’s housing stock is not connected to the gas grid and householders in these rural areas are often reliant on heating oil, which is expensive and has high carbon emissions.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said the increased grants were designed to “kick start this exciting new market for consumer renewable heat technologies”.
“This time-limited, big increase in the value of vouchers for hardworking people who want to do something positive to install ...
From 1st April 2013 the Commercial Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Tariff Rates increased in line with inflation to the levels shown here
The increase reflects the pro-rated index-linking of the RHI to the Retail Price Index with an increase of just over 3% applying to both installations currently receiving the government incentive and future installations.
Save Money, Make Money
Not only can Renewable Heat make you money through the RHI you could also save money on your heating costs. As an example switching to Biomass from oil or LPG typically results in 20% – 40% savings on fuel costs and with fossil fuel costs rising there has been no better time to ‘go green’.
If you would like to make an enquiry please call 01423 359 600 or click here
This week British Gas reported an 11% rise in profits. A particularly cold snap was to thank for a 12% increase in gas consumption that was worth £606 million to the energy giant.
British Gas’s profit announcement comes less than four months after the supplier upped its tariffs by 6.5%. According to the Express, the average annual British Gas energy bill has risen from £543 in 2004, to £821 in 2008, and now stands at £1,336.
What’s more concerning is that energy bills in the UK are only going one way – up. Outgoing Ofgem Chief Executive, Alistair Buchanan, said that he expects the impending closure of around 10% of the UK’s generation capacity within the next month to lead to an over-reliance on imported energy. He said: “Ofgem estimates that, by 2020, 60% to 70% of our generation may have to come from gas to fill the gap. That’s up from about 30% today.”
The UK’s over-reliance on volatile global gas markets means that more energy bill price rises are inevitable. But there is another way.
A large 4kW domestic solar PV system can now be purchased for around £7,000 (the same amount of money the average British Gas customer spends in five years).
Duncan Renewables have just completed a 198kW biomass installation at one of the country’s leading contract furniture suppliers. The installation allowed Hill Cross Furniture, based near Northallerton, to switch from LPG and electric heating to wood pellets which are sustainably sourced from a local supplier. The district heating system saw several buildings on the company’s manufacturing facilities linked to a central plant room housing the boiler and the wood pellet store.
Recently I read an article in Energy Now magazine which discusses the energy concerns of Farmers and Landowners. I found it interesting because it makes a lot of great points as we embark on a new year of rising energy costs and increasing demand for renewable investment. With the potential for more FiT cuts in the summer, and a likelihood of increasing PV equipment costs as the value of the Pound falls, now is prime window to install renewables under the best possible conditions with the best value for money return on investment. And, it is important to remember that even if rates may fall, if you begin your project in advance of the rate cut it is possible to pre-register your system for the higher rates. So, if you are thinking of installing, now is a great time to discuss your project with the Duncan Renewables Team.
2013 Energy Challenges Open New Window for Renewables
One of the biggest energy challenges farmers will have to deal with in 2013 will also be one of the biggest: traditional electricity prices increasing by 10% in the first few months of the year
This is likely to continue to encourage confidence in renewables as a profitable alternative and stop the mis...
