It was announced by Department of Energy and Climate Change that the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme has been approved for England, Scotland and Wales. It means that you can get a cashback of up to £1250 towards green heating installation. To get the maximum cashback you will have to install a heat pump. Biomass boilers qualify for a £950 payment if certain criteria are met.
In total up to £15 million have been allocated and it is estimated that the money will last to help around 25,000 households. That doesn’t sound much, does it? However, it will be enough because the majority of us won’t qualify for it anyway.
Firstly, you have to be off the main gas supply. And that’s the biggest obstacle for most of Britons. Having said that, you can opt out of the gas network and get cut off. Otherwise, if you keep your gas mains, the DECC has no way of knowing if you’re sticking to your biomass boiler or still tampering with gas heating.
Another important factor is having a properly insulated house. A loft insulation is a must and you are also required to prove that you’ve done your best to insulate the walls. Of course, there are exceptions because some houses cannot accommodate cavity wall insulation.
Your biomass boiler installation should qualify under the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) meaning that no DIY or white-van-man installations (no offence here chaps!) are permitted. It is essential to get a certified company to supply and install your heating apparatus.
It is also your responsibility to make sure you have the permission to install a heating system.
The RHPP is a temporary measure applying to installations happening from August 1, 2015 to March 31 2012. I can see the appeal for a family living in a rural zone, looking to go greener. However, I’m sure that a few adventurous urban dwellers will find this attractive too.
Thanks go to Wessex Biomass Boilers for providing additional details. Also check Energy Saving Trust for more information.
