Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme

Frequently asked questions
What is the Renewable Heat Premium Payment?
• The Renewable Heat Premium Payment is a scheme to support people who want to install renewable heat technologies.
How will the scheme work?
• Individuals will be able to apply for a voucher which will be issued once they fill in the form. Once one of the qualifying technologies has been installed the voucher can be exchanged for grant money. If you are issued with a voucher you are not required to then install equipment but if you do, the voucher is a promise that you will receive the appropriate grant once your equipment has been installed and as long as the relevant conditions of the voucher are met. If you decide you will not use the voucher please inform the Energy Saving Trust as soon as possible.
How do I apply for a Renewable Heat Premium Payment?
• The scheme opened for applications on 1st August 2011. You can apply online by going to the Energy Saving Trust website http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk  please read the eligible criteria below before making an application, we will be happy to provide guidance and help in submitting an application if needed.
• If you don’t have access to the internet you will be able to apply by calling an advisor on 0800 512 012.
Who can apply for a grant?
• Individuals who own their own property and reside within England, Wales or Scotland can apply for installations at their primary residence. Please note that this scheme does not apply to residents of Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. If you rent your property privately, approach your landlord as you may need to work with them to apply for the scheme.
The payments outlined as follows;
• Air Source Heat Pumps £850
• Ground Source Heat Pumps £1150
• Solar Thermal Collectors £300
• Biomass £950
What are the eligibility criteria?
• Applicants must be the owners of or reside in the property for which the grant is applied (alternatively applicants who have leasehold ownership or tenancy occupation must have permission from the property freeholder) and it must be their primary residence.
• For heating systems other than solar thermal, this must be the main heating system in the house.
• The installation address must be situated in England, Scotland or Wales (the scheme is not available to addresses in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) and must be the applicant’s primary residence or a property occupied for the majority of the year.
• Eligible technologies are solar thermal hot Water, air to water source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, water to water heat pumps and biomass fuelled boilers (e.g. wood or wood pellet), air to air heat pumps, wood fuelled stoves (unless they are part of a system with a back boiler) and bio liquid fuelled systems are not eligible for this scheme.
• Solar thermal hot water systems will be available to all householders.
• For other technologies applicants must not currently use mains gas supply for their heating system.
• For other technologies applicants must not currently use mains gas supply for their heating system.
• Applicants must use a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificated installer and product or equivalent. Please see http://www.microgenerationcertification.org for more details.
• Renewable heating systems must supply a permanent residential building (mobile homes, caravans, house boats and systems heating swimming pools only are not eligible).
• Basic energy efficiency measures must have been installed at the installation address (loft insulation up to 250mm where appropriate, cavity wall insulation where practicable). More information can be found on the Energy Saving Trust’s website http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/RHPP or call your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.
• Applicants must have received all relevant permissions for the installation including planning permission where required. If in doubt, please confirm with your local authority whether planning permission is required.