UK: The Heat Pump Association has expressed 'profound disappointment' at the announcement that both the amendments to commercial RHI and the launch of domestic RHI are to be further delayed until Spring 2014.
'Such a delay risks damaging more than just the credibility of the policy, in the commercial RHI sector it also risks damaging specific industries and businesses since there are current policy distortions which need to be rapidly resolved,' says the HPA.

'Industry has invested millions in preparing for the launch of this policy, and now those still able will be forced to fund a further period,' it adds.

While DECC is said to remain fully committed to RHI, the HPA says that industry will have to work hard to convince sceptical end users and installers that they should buy in to the project.

The HPA sees positives in the announcement, particulalrly the increased funding for training and apprenticeships, and the extension of the RHPP scheme for home owners to March 2014. It sees this as an essential yet minimum substitute, although it says the benefit will be far less than if RHI had itself been implemented and RHPP monies will have to be repaid from eventual RHI income.

The HPA is calling on DECC to communicate very clearly to the market that DECC are committed to domestic RHI, and positively review the incentives available to householders in the intervening period. It also calls on DECC to urgently revise the tariffs for commercial RHI to remove current distortions and introduce enhanced preliminary accreditation for larger projects.

HPA president Tony Bowen comments 'DECC state their strong and continuing commitment to the RHI scheme, but we need a rapid decisions so that current market distortions can be corrected and that the market can be given enough detail to provide future certainty.'