According to the latest Renewables Guide press release, since its launch in August, the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) has so far proved to be a popular incentive.
Designed to stoke interest in renewable heating, one green technology in particular seems to be an outright favourite, and that’s heat pumps.
The RHPP – the first phase of the Government’s £860 million Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – provides grants as an incentive to encourage the uptake of renewable heating technologies. With £850 worth of financial assistance available towards the installation of an air source heat pump, some seven weeks after the scheme’s launch 511 vouchers totalling £434,350 had been issued by the Energy Saving Trust, who is administering the RHPP.
According to figures released by the Energy Saving Trust, ground source heat pumps had achieved 283 vouchers, worth a total of £353,750; proving that heat pumps are far and away the most popular heating technology under the scheme. Ground source heat pumps are eligible for a one-off payment of £1,250.
The benefits of heat pumps as a renewable source of energy include:
- They have a longer life expectancy compared to traditional conventional boilers.
- Heat pumps are a complete solution to your homes heating and hot water needs.
- They’ll save you money on your fuel costs and cut your carbon emissions.
- They qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
- Capable of heating your home in the winter and cooling it in the summer, a heat pump will work for you all year round.
Around 4 million homes in the UK aren’t heated by mains gas, with the majority having to use expensive high carbon fuels for water and space heating. The RHPP is specifically aimed at those off grid households who are best placed to enjoy the benefits of renewable heating technologies like ground and air source heat pumps.
David Holmes, founder of Renewables Guide said: “As figures released by the Energy Saving Trust show, interest for heat pumps is certainly out there. Fuelled by the financial incentives on offer via schemes like the RHPP – not to mention the incentive of lowering fuel bills and being better for the environment – the technology is growing in popularity. “At the moment we are fielding enquiries from people keen to install the technology, and we’d be interested in hearing from MCS accredited installers who could benefit from the quality leads we are generating.”
Anyone interested in benefiting from renewable heating has until the end of March to apply for a grant. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, the Government has set aside a pot of £15 million; £12 million of which is available for residential domestic installations, with £3 million remaining for social housing providers.
