RHI Premium Payment Grant

What is the RHI Premium Payment Grant?

The intention of the RHI Premium payment is to bridge the gap until the full domestic RHI is launched in October 2012. For Solar Thermal, a grant payment of £300 is available.

By supporting the installation of around 25,000 Renewable Heat systems, including Solar Thermal, Heat Pumps and Biomass, the Government aims to achieve a balanced spread of green heating systems across the UK.

The Renewable Heat Incentive Premium Payment is available from 1st August 2011 to 31st March 2012. A total of £15m is available with £3m of this being set aside for private landlords. The grant will also be reviewed once £10m has been spent.

In addition to encouraging homeowners to adopt Renewable Heat technologies before the RHI starts in October 2012, the aim of this grant scheme is to gather valuable feedback and data on system performance.

Who qualifies for the Premium Payment?

The Premium Payment is aimed at ALL homeowners wishing to install Solar Thermal Panels. Other Renewable Heat installations such as Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps will only qualify if they are off the gas grid. This is due to the higher carbon content and cost of non-gas fuels.

For homes to qualify, they must have 250mm of Loft Insulation and have Cavity Wall Insulation, if the property is suitable for these measures.

The Solar Thermal system must be fitted by an approved installer using equipment that is approved for use on the scheme. EnergyLink can help you to find these installers.

Homeowners must give feedback on how the equipment performs by completing two surveys, 6 months apart. Some owners may be required to have monitoring equipment fitted.

The property must also be suitable for the installation of Solar Thermal Panels. Please see the checklist on our main Solar Thermal page.

How do I claim the RHI Premium Payment?

The first step is to check that your property is suitable for Solar Thermal Panels by arranging three quotes from approved installers.

Your home must have 250mm of Loft Insulation and Cavity Wall Insulation, if it is possible to have them installed. Regardless of whether your property is suitable for Solar Thermal or whether you go ahead, it is advisable to have a well insulated home.

Government-backed Home Insulation grants are available to cover all or most of the installation cost. Read more about Home Insulation Grants.

Once you know your property is suitable and your insulation is installed or arranged, you will then need to apply for your RHI Premium Payment voucher via the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

Providing your application is approved, the EST will issue the voucher. Once the system installed, the voucher and a copy of the installer's invoice should be returned to the EST and the Renewable Heat Incentive Premium Payment will be made directly to your bank account.

Will I qualify for RHIs if I receive the Premium Payment?

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) who are the Government department that created the scheme have stated:

"People who have installed the kit under the Premium Payments will also be eligible for support through the RHI providing they meet the eligibility criteria of the full RHI scheme, as will anybody else who has installed eligible equipment since 15 July 2009".

Read more about the full Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

How can EnergyLink help?

EnergyLink can arrange for you to receive up to 3 quotes from approved local installers. Apart from ensuring you will receive RHI Premium Payments, it is also important to shop around because the less you pay for a system, the quicker the payback will be.

We can also help you with Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation by putting you in touch with a reputable local installer who has access to Government-backed grant funding.