The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive is a government monetary incentive formulated with the intention of minimising the effects of climate change. This is implemented through the promotion of converting to heat systems using renewable energy sources, to help reduce carbon emissions for the UK to meet its sustainability goals.
There are two types of Renewable Heat Incentive schemes, domestic and non‑domestic.
A domestic RHI is intended for one private residence, while a non-domestic RHI is aimed at the public, commercial, or industrial renewable heating operations.

What does the RHI cover?

• Biomass boilers is a process of burning of natural materials such as wood pellets or logs to generate heating.
• Solar water heating is a system using panels to pass through sunlight which is then refracted by the glass, altering the sunlight’s wavelength, resulting in trapped heat.
• Ground source heat pumps to heat your home with energy from the sun using buried pipes to extract the energy from the sun that warmed the ground.
• Air source heat pumps don’t create heat, heat from the air gets absorbed into a fluid, which boils to become a gas. The gas is then moved from one place to another through the vapour compression cycle.

With regards to the amount of heating a house can receive payments for, there is no limit for solar water heating systems but an Air source heat pump is limited to 20,000kWh, while a biomass boiler is set to 25,000kWh and a ground source heat pump limited to 30,000kWh.
The amount you receive depends on the technology installed, the latest tariffs available and in some instances, metering.

How Do You Apply for the RHI?
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and you either own your home or are a private or social landlord you will be able to apply for the RHI.
Ensure you prepare the following information and documents beforehand:

• MCS certification.
• Your Energy Performance Certificate.
• Your bank details. Make sure that the name and personal details you use for your application are the same as on your bank account.
• Your metering questions, if you need to be metered.