What is RHI and How Does it Facilitate Moving Away from Fossil Fuels

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Upon the realization of the impact fossil fuels have had on earth for the last a hundred or so years, the world is now moving to renewable energy. The transaction started more than 50 years ago, but it is only gaining more popularity now. The age of electric cars is on the rise and governments are offering incentives to promote the production and use of renewable energy. Renewable heat incentives (RHI) are common today and they have facilitated the use of renewable energy. This post focuses more on the RHI and how it is impacting the realm of renewable energy.

What is Renewable Heat Incentives?

This is a program that has been introduced by governments in several countries with the aim of encouraging the uptake of domestic renewable heat energy technology. The program has seen many changes and it is not the same in all countries. Changes are mostly on the amount that households are paid as well as eligibility requirements.

Simply put, RHI provides financial incentives to the owners of domestic properties that install renewable heating technologies. These include solar thermal and source heat pumps. By installing these technologies and adhering to the set rules of the scheme, you will receive quarterly payments for the next 7 years. The payments are made by the government. The amount you get will depend on the amount of renewable heat that your household generates. The amount is also subject to the prevailing tariff rates. The incentives have seen many households moving away from fossil fuels.

Eligibility requirements

The domestic Renewable Heat Incentives’ payments were introduced back in 2014. Needless to say, the program is aimed at the households. To be eligible, you need to be a landlord, homeowner, or a self-builder.

In addition to that, it is imperative that the applicant install a renewable heat technology capable of heating a single domestic property. You are also required to have an Energy Performance Certificate on your building. The systems that qualify for the RHI include the following:

• Biomass

• Solar thermal

• Air source heat pumps

• Ground source heat pumps

The above eligibility requirements are for people living in Wales, Scotland, and England. Check with your local authority to see if there are similar incentives available. In addition to that, if you live in countries where these payments are made available, it is imperative that you read up on the latest rules on the RHI scheme. The reason for this is because the rules keep on changing. The payable rates are also not fixed.

Advantages of the RHI

The RHI payments are made to help you transition easily from fossil fuel to renewable energy. Consequently, they are designed to be enticing. However, when calculating the amount you will get, you need to take note of the available tariffs. These are calculated based on the system that you have installed. The tariffs are also subject to digression so as to ensure optimal financial benefits.

The best thing you can do is to transition to renewable energy. The available government incentives will cushion you from the high cost of installation. Needless to say, the benefits of efficient renewable energy are endless.