He also welcomed the official linking of the Green Deal with the domestic RHI adding: “The news on the domestic RHI is fantastic. It’s been a long time coming, but the tariffs are encouraging and it’s a big step in the right direction; this is a great start to the longer journey.
“Renewable energy systems are extremely impressive pieces of kit. They’re highly efficient, clean and will be important for the government to meet their decarbonisation targets.
“The link between the RHI and Green Deal is exciting. There’s no point fitting renewables (or any heating system) in homes that are poorly insulated because the heat will just escape out of the walls or the ceiling, so I’m happy a Green Deal assessment and minimum insulation requirements are needed.
“People can also combine Green Deal with the RHI, so it’s possible to get Green Deal finance to buy a ground source heat pump and claim the tariff money for the energy you produce. This makes renewables more affordable than ever.
“There are now plenty of new business opportunities for installers, but training is more important than ever. To fit renewables under RHI, installers need to be MCS accredited, and they need Green Deal training to be qualified to work under that scheme.
“Plumb Center and its training partner Sevenoaks Academy offer all the training and qualifications installers need, so I’d advise to strike while the iron is hot and make the most of these exciting initiatives.”