NEWS All the latest news from around the building industry
DECC doubles renewable heat payments
l Scheme to provide better incentive while industry awaits the domestic RHI
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) grant scheme for domestic installations is to be ‘significantly increased’ – in some cases payments will double – according to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
RHPP funding is designed to plug the gap before the introduction of the full domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), currently scheduled for the spring of 2014 after several delays. It supports solar thermal, ground and air source heat pumps and biomass boilers.
Gaynor Hartnell, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association (REA), welcomed the increase, but urged the government to stick to the timetable for launching the RHI. ‘We hope this will be the last time this stop-gap measure is needed,’ she said. The REA also reminded the government it was five years since the RHI was announced and urged it to provide ‘policy certainty’.
Payments received from the RHPP will be deducted from any subsequent RHI finance a project receives. Only properties with loft and cavity wall insulation (if practical) and which have had a Green Deal assessment, are eligible. Installations must be carried out by MCS-certified installers. Meanwhile, the RHI operations director has urged
applicants to take more care over the details of their applications. Jacqueline Balian told the latest Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) conference that 96% of all applications for RHI payments [under the scheme for the commercial sector that is already up and running] had to be returned to the applicant because of missing or poor quality information. She also said only £9m has so far been paid out of the available £860m funding – so there is ‘lots in the kitty’.
About 70% of applications do not include information about the system capacity – ‘you wouldn’t think that was so difficult’, said Balian. And 50% need to provide more meter information, while almost 30% need to provide more accurate schematics.
The RHI is being revamped and will include: simpler meter arrangements; new air quality restrictions for biomass installations; and a requirement for life-cycle greenhouse gas savings of 60% from each installation. However, currently 40% of renewable installations in the UK are working ‘well below their performance potential’, according to CIBSE vice president John Field. ‘We can’t afford to fit and forget; people need to be told how to operate their systems properly,’ he told the BCIA conference. ‘We also need to ensure clients are getting the right incentive payments, because that will ensure their installations are working properly.’
‘Women are an important part of our industry’s future,’ says chairman of new WiBSE network
A panel of female speakers at the top of their fields inspired more women to get involved in engineering at the official launch of the Women in Building Services Engineering (WiBSE) network last month. The speakers entertained the audience with anecdotes of their experiences in industry during the networking event, staged in London. Sarah Davis, WiBSE chairman, said women are an important part of our engineering future, adding: ‘We want to inspire more women to lead in our industry.’
www.cibsejournal.com In brief
17% OF PROPERTY ‘UNFIT FOR LET’,SAYS WSP At least 17% – and possibly as much as 35% – of British commercial buildings could be unfit for renting out in five years’ time because of their poor Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings. Under the terms of the Energy Act,
by 2018 commercial properties with EPC ratings lower than E will have to be taken off the rental market until they have been brought up to standard. The government may also decide to include premises with E ratings, which would push the figure up to 35% of all commercial rental properties in the UK. Consultant WSP reached these
conclusions after analysing more than 4,000 EPCs. However, it warned the figure could rise even further as standards within the Building Regulations improve.
WISE AWARDS OPEN The 2013 WISE Awards has opened for nominations. The organisation promotes the employment of women in science and the awards look to reward those who have done the most to inspire and encourage women to join the STEM industries. WISE is seeking nominations until 31 July from the construction and built environment sector in their 10 awards categories, which include a female innovators class, apprentices and mentors.
www.wisecampaign.org.uk
BUSINESS TO BE PAID FOR REDUCING ELECTRICITY USE Government has announced it is to create a financial incentive for businesses that permanently reduce the amount of electricity they use. The Department of Energy and Climate Change said it has put forward amendments to the Energy Bill to enable incentives to be delivered through the capacity market. The announcement was made as part of the government’s response to the Electricity Demand Reduction consultation, launched in November last year. A pilot may be held to test the approach.
June 2013 CIBSE Journal 7
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