The decision by DECC to include condensing biomass boilers in the domestic RHI was taken after tests by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that the chemicals found in the condensate from condensing biomass boilers should not pose a significant threat to the aquatic environment once they have been through waste water treatment.
As a result the government has taken the decision to extend the domestic RHI eligibility to condensing biomass boilers, provided they meet the other criteria of the scheme. This will apply to eligible condensing biomass boilers installed between 15 July 2009 and the launch of the scheme in spring 2014 in addition to those installed after the scheme is launched.
HETAS chief executive Bruce Allen said: “With over 90 percent of funding under the non domestic version of RHI allocated to biomass, we’re anticipating significant levels of interest from the domestic sector.”