UK: The domestic heat pump industry has received a boost following the publication of the financial incentives that will be available under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Energy and Climate Change minister Greg Barker has confirmed that the tariff levels will be 7.3p/kWh for air source heat pumps and 18.8p/kWh for ground source heat pumps.

The new RHI for householders is designed to drive forward uptake of renewable heat technologies in homes across the UK to cut carbon, help meet renewables targets and save money on bills.

'Householders can now invest in a range of exciting heating technologies knowing how much the tariff will be for different renewable heat technologies and benefit from the clean green heat produced,' commented Greg Barker. 'We are also sending a clear signal to industry that the Coalition is 110% committed to boosting and sustaining growth in this sector.'

The announcement was welcomed by the Heat Pump Association (HPA), specifically mentioning what it perceives as 'a number of significant improvements over its non-domestic RHI cousin'.

These include the suggestion that payments will be enhanced from the 20 year calculation model by being paid over a seven-year period. Unlike its predecessor RHPP, it will be available to dwellings that are also on the gas grid. Payments will also be related to predicted efficiency performance encouraging better practice.

The HPA says it will continue to press for additional technologies in the non-domestic scheme, 'notably air source heat pumps, and for greater tariff certainty for long lead-in time projects in the form of Enhanced Preliminary Accreditation'.