LAST WORD
The last WORD
Slipping off the agenda Incentives for the adoption of renewables need to be simplified argues Brian Smithers
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was launched in November to encourage businesses to install renewable heat technologies on their properties such as solar thermal panels, biomass boilers or ground source heat pumps. Nearly six months since the launch, more than 300 businesses have filed to receive the green subsidy, but just 11 companies have been approved by Ofgem.
t the same time, the number of businesses applying for the RHI has increased over recent weeks with Ofgem now receiving around 20 applications a week, up from the previous 16-per-week. And to help businesses navigate the application process and boost uptake for the scheme, Ofgem has announced that it will host a series of events to inform businesses on how they can take advantage of the RHI.
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Brian Smithers is director for energy solutions at Rexel.
Education is an important first step. When the feed in tariff (FIT) scheme was introduced for solar power, education was at the heart of its success. Like the feed in tariff scheme, the RHI will not be of benefit to every business. This is why educating contractors and the building industry on which businesses are suitable are crucial to its success. For public confidence in schemes like the RHI to improve, people must have access to good advice. It’s our job to help customers navigate and make sense of the various incentives available, including the RHIs. But, while education is important, if we want to reduce our carbon emissions and keep up with the
rest of Europe, the UK needs to stop wasting heat and start renewing. Insulation is one of the keys that will make this scheme work. It’s a vital first step to address building design. Most buildings in the UK are pre-war structures and need to be properly insulated. To make this scheme really work buildings need to be airtight to a minimum of a Code Level five. But insulation should go hand-in-hand with investment in new technologies that will boost the update of renewables. It’s clear from the title of the scheme: the RHI should be about investing in renewables. Until it is fully scoped out, uptake will continue to be slow in my opinion. There still hasn’t been a great deal of adoption for renewables largely because people are apprehensive about investing until policies about incentives are clearer. Most importantly the industry needs to learn from previous schemes such as the Feed In Tarrifs (FIT). FIT is a great example of a scheme that jolted the market into investing in solar and it is continuing to play an important part in reducing the UK’s carbon footprint. The UK needs forward-looking subsidies and funding that goes towards encouraging the adoption of renewable heat technologies that could really make a difference to reducing our impact on the environment, saving money for businesses and households alike. For adoption of renewables to increase, incentives need to be manageable, mapped more closely to market needs and clearly communicated. To boost uptake of the RHI, polices need to be simple and easy to understand and investment must be made in education. n
ArchitectNews.co.uk | Architects Choice | 47
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