Bringing Down the Cost of Solar Thermal Heating

As part of an overall commitment to cut carbon emissions, the UK government has set targets to significantly increase in the amount of heating from renewable sources to 15% of the total by 2020.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is designed to reward homeowners with long-term, tax-free, cash payment for investing in renewable energy systems like solar panels.

Government recently confirmed an £856m budget for the RHI which is expected to start in October 2012 and any owners of solar thermal systems installed since July 2009 will be eligible to recieve guaranteed tax-free payments. The terms of the RHI will be clarified in May 2012.

In the interim the Government has launched the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme. Provided your house has some basic insulation measures in place, you will be eligible to claim a £300 rebate for buying a solar thermal system, which we think is a  great reward for an investment that will save you money every day of the year.

Its aim is to make the cost of solar thermal heating systems more attactive by offering a guaranteed return on investment - we believe that will mean a return that should typically enable you to recover the cost of a solar heating system within 9 - 12 years.

To find out more about the Renewable Heat Incentive visit, www.decc.gov.uk/rhi