A statement from DECC highlights that “evidence suggests there may be differences between actual costs and load factors of installations and the original assumptions used to calculate the current tariffs” indicating that the early assumptions needed revisiting.
The GSHPA says it has been highlighting concerns over the distortion within the RHI payment structure and the low tariffs allocated to GSHP installations. It adds that the evidence presented supports a revised non-domestic tariff of 9.4 p per kWh.
It is now understood that climate change minister Greg Barker has instructed his RHI team in DECC to expedite the review of tariff rates for GSHP systems.
Meeting with Greg Barker and DECC officials before Christmas, a team of GSHPA Council members addressed the issue of why only 2 percent of RHI payments had been made to owners of heat pump installations. At that time, the GSHPA reports that it was agreed that the situation needed a thorough review by civil servants within the DECC RHI team.
A spokesman for GSHPA said: “Take up of GSHP technology during the RHI’s first year has been lower than expected. With 98 percent of the RHI currently allocated to biomass systems, it is also clear that the tariffs significantly favour this technology over others. In response to this, DECC issued a Ground Source Heat Pump Call for Evidence in the autumn of 2012. Through bringing together the expertise within the GSHPA and its membership base, a strong and supportive evidence base was submitted by the Association.
“After the minister for climate change’s announcement this week, the GSHPA, the industry and end users of this technology now feel enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead. It is also great news that Greg Barker has confirmed that all future Phase 1 RHI applications made from 21st January will be offered the higher tariff rates (9.4p/kWh) alluded to in DECC’s statement. The Association welcomes the way in which civil servants have responded to Greg Barker’s requests to resolve this imbalance.”
David Matthews, GSHPA chief executive, added: “This has been a real win-win story. DECC and GSHPA have worked together to review the evidence and so address early anomalies in the incentive scheme. These revisions will secure British jobs, alleviate climate change and provide comfortable conditions within buildings.”