In general, the response to the recent announcement about the Renewable Heat Incentive has been positive. The fact that the Government has ratified the scheme is a major boost to the renewables sector. Although there are more details to be released, Nu-Heat believes that an opportunity now exists in real terms for homeowners installing ground source heat pumps, solar thermal and biomass products, both through the Premium Payment and, in the longer term, the domestic tariff to be announced in 2012. 

It’s great that ground source and solar thermal have been included and although air source heat pumps are not currently on the qualifying list for the tariff payments, due to the government feeling that more work is needed ‘to better understand the costs associated with the technology’, the fact that the Premium Payment includes a grant of £850 for air source means that there is recognition of the importance of this product to the sector. Nu-Heat maintains that air source has enormous potential for different installations, including both new-build and retrofit with particular relevance to off gas locations. ‘We believe that it is up to suppliers to demonstrate that, with good design, air source heat pumps will achieve and exceed the required EU standard CoP of 2.9,’ says Nu-Heat Director Adrian Troop.   

The announcement highlights once again the need for the correct design, sizing and installation of renewable systems. ‘We are satisfied that Nu-Heat’s core values more than meet any queries that linger over the performance of renewable installations,’ continues Adrian. ‘Our continual investment into ensuring that only the most efficient systems are specified has been wholly endorsed.’ This includes the development of Nu-Heat’s Predictor software that allows the correct sizing of a heat pump using local weather data, and research into the supply of highly efficient cylinders for improved heat storage.

Equally, as installers must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for the homeowner to claim the Premium Payment and the tariff payment, Nu-Heat’s provision of NICEIC accredited courses at its National Renewables Training Centre along with the company’s own MCS Umbrella Scheme has been validated. Nu-Heat’s renewable products are all MCS approved.

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Tags: renewable, renewable energy

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 1:14 pm and is filed under Energy and Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.