NEWS
Green Deal standards to underpin RHI
l Government wants to link payments to energy efficiency standards
The government plans to link Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments to energy efficiency standards under the Green Deal scheme. Ofgem is to manage the domestic scheme when it is launched next summer. Proposals for the commercial scheme, in operation since November 2011, are aimed at boosting sluggish take up of renewable heating technologies. Householders planning to install renewable heating, or who have installed it since July 2009, will qualify for RHI payments, proposed to be 6.9-11.5p/kWh for air source heat pumps; 5.2-8.7p/kWh for biomass boilers; 12.5-17.3p/ kWh for ground source heat pumps; and 17.3p/ kWh for solar thermal technologies. Payments will only be made for installations covered by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and that meet standards set for Green Deal installations. The government has produced three documents as part of a consultation exercise into the RHI proposals and is inviting detailed feedback from the industry until December 7. Domestic payments are expected to be made over seven years for each kWh of heat produced, and based on deemed heat usage. Householders living off the gas grid will enjoy higher tariffs. ‘Our proposals aim to encourage even more uptake of clean green heating in industry and in our businesses,’ said Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker. ‘We have also set out our views on long-term support for those who invest
in low carbon kit in their homes and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.’
He said the government was hoping to expand the commercial RHI by including heating only air-to-air heat pumps, with a proposed tariff of 0.97p/kWh. Air-to-water heat pumps are also to be included with a proposed tariff of 1.7p/kWh, but reversible air-to-air heat pumps are excluded. Among other proposals are biomass direct air heaters (tariff of 2.1p/kWh under 1MW and 1p/kWh over 1MW); the extension of biogas combustion tariffs to installations over 200kW; the introduction of a specific tariff for heat from biomass CHP (4.1pkWh); a new bioliquid CHP tariff (4.1p/kWh); and an increased tariff for deep geothermal installations. For consultation documents go to the
‘Technical resources’ section of
www.cibse.org
Cash boost for early adopters
The government is seeking to give its flagship Green Deal scheme a ‘flying start’ by offering early adopters a cash reward.
Financial packages to pay for Green Deal projects will be available from January 28 and households that apply early could also receive as much as £1,000 cash back. The more work they have carried out, the more cash they will receive.
Funding for cities to act as guinea pigs
The government has released a fund of £12m to seven English cities so they can test elements of the Green Deal and kick-start projects. The funding, which is part of the £200m launch fund announced by DECC earlier this year, is going to Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester,
Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. They will trial parts of the Green Deal framework, including assessment and installation though community- wide home retrofits. The cities expect to improve up to 2,500 homes and commercial properties. All of the cities are also proposing to generate match funding and/or provide direct support themselves. It is hoped that the test programme will raise awareness of the Green Deal through community engagement and show homes, and provide support to local supply chains including trained Green Deal advisors and registered installers. Funding for the cities was allocated by population, with the total amount being adjusted based on the nature of the proposals (including how closely the proposals mimic the Green Deal, the range of initiatives, properties and measures and the overall deliverability of the initiatives), according to a DECC statement.
www.cibsejournal.com
The cash payments will come from a £125 million fund, but the best deals will be available from the first £40m to try and persuade households to be early adopters. Energy Secretary Ed Davey urged businesses ‘to take advantage of this transforming market’, describing the launch as a critical period for the industry. ‘Whatever your business does in this sector, the Green Deal will have an impact. So I say to businesses large and small – gear up, get training and get ready to take advantage of the Green Deal,’ he said. To qualify for the cash back, the householder must have a Green Deal assessment and then install at least some of the recommended improvements. Davey added: ‘This cash back offer will help get the Green Deal off to a flying start.’ The Green Deal is the government’s new initiative to transform the UK market for energy efficiency. It will enable householders and businesses to pay for energy efficiency improvements, like insulation, through expected savings on their energy bills.
November 2012 CIBSE Journal 7
Battery life seen as more important
than efficiency US consumers now favour energy-efficient appliances, but not necessarily for the right reasons, according to a report from the US Energy Information Administration. It studied the market penetration of Energy Star products (those with high energy efficiency ratings) and found that they account for almost 100% of the sales of some appliances like dishwashers and televisions, but just 17% of desktop computer sales and 21% of the market for freezers. Consumer analysts said that energy efficiency was only regarded as a secondary benefit. Energy Star notebook computers command 75% of the market, but they also have longer battery life, which is seen as the primary driver for buyers.
SHUTTERSTOCK / TUPUNGATO
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