The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations 2017

Tiered tariffs

63.—(1) This regulation applies where, on or after the date on which these Regulations come into force—

(a) an accredited RHI installation—

(i) has an installation capacity of less than 1MWth and generates heat from biomass;

(ii) has an installation capacity of 1MWth or above, generates heat from biomass and has a tariff start date on or after 14th December 2016;

(iii) is a ground source heat pump with a tariff start date on or after 28th May 2014; or

(iv) is a shared ground loop system;

(b) a registered participant produces biomethane with a tariff start date on or after 12th February 2015.

(2) Where this regulation applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(a)—

(a) in relation to the initial heat generated by the accredited RHI installation in a relevant period and used for eligible purposes, the initial or subsequent tariff is tier 1 of the relevant tariff; and

(b) subject to regulation 70, in relation to all further heat generated by that installation in that same relevant period and used for eligible purposes, the initial or subsequent tariff is tier 2 of the relevant tariff.

(3) In relation to an accredited RHI installation with an installation capacity of less than 1MWth which generates heat from biomass—

(a) where the tariff start date is before the date on which these Regulations come into force, “initial heat” means the heat in kWhth generated by the accredited RHI installation running at its installation capacity for 1,314 hours; or

(b) where the tariff start date is on or after the date on which these Regulations come into force, “initial heat” means the heat in kWhth generated by the accredited RHI installation running at its installation capacity for 3,066 hours.

(4) In relation to an accredited RHI installation which generates heat from biomass with an installation capacity of 1MWth or above, “initial heat” means the heat in kWhth generated by the accredited RHI installation running at its installation capacity for 3,066 hours.

(5) In relation to an accredited RHI installation which is a ground source heat pump, “initial heat” means the heat in kWhth generated by that installation running at its installation capacity for 1,314 hours.

(6) In relation to an accredited RHI installation which is a shared ground loop system, “initial heat” means—

(a) in respect of any ground source heat pumps installed in domestic premises which form part of the shared ground loop system, the lower of—

(i) the heat in kWhth generated by each of those ground source heat pumps running at its installed peak heat output capacity for 1,314 hours; or

(ii) the heat demand for space heating and water heating specified in the relevant EPC for that property (where “heat demand” and “relevant EPC” have the same meaning as in regulation 70);

(b) in respect of all other ground source heat pumps which form part of that shared ground loop system, the heat in kWhth generated by each ground source heat pump running at its installed peak heat output capacity for 1,314 hours.

(7) Where this regulation applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) the initial or subsequent tariff for biomethane produced for injection is—

(a) in relation to the initial biomethane, tier 1 of the relevant tariff;

(b) in relation to the secondary biomethane, tier 2 of the relevant tariff; and

(c) in relation to the tertiary biomethane, tier 3 of the relevant tariff.

(8) In paragraph (7)—

(a) “initial biomethane” means the amount of eligible biomethane measured in megawatt hours which is injected in a relevant period, up to 40,000 megawatt hours;

(b) “secondary biomethane” means the amount of eligible biomethane measured in megawatt hours injected in a relevant period, in excess of the initial biomethane, up to an additional 40,000 megawatt hours; and

(c) “tertiary biomethane” means the amount of eligible biomethane measured in megawatt hours injected in the relevant period in excess of the secondary biomethane.

(9) Where a guaranteed tariff applies in relation to an accredited RHI installation or the production of biomethane for injection—

(a) heat in excess of 250GWh in any relevant period is further heat for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b); and

(b) biomethane in excess of 250GWh in any relevant period is tertiary biomethane for the purposes of paragraph (7)(c).

(10) In this regulation, “relevant period” means—

(a) except as provided in paragraph (b), the 12 month period commencing with, or with the anniversary of, the tariff start date; or

(b) where the accredited RHI installation has an installation capacity of 1MWth or above, generates heat from biomass and has a tariff start date on or after 14th December 2016 but before the date on which these Regulations come into force,

(i) the period commencing with the date on which these Regulations come into force and ending with the day before the anniversary of the tariff start date; and

(ii) thereafter, the 12 month period commencing with the anniversary of the tariff start date.