Official figures for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) show that the scheme is making good headway, according to a report published by energy website Green Business Watch.
Since the domestic RHI launched in April this year, more than 7,400 applications had been made by the end of July. Of those applications, 67% are already approved and accredited.
The research notes that early activity under the scheme has been heavily weighted towards legacy applications – with installations completed after 15 July 2009 eligible for support under the scheme.
Legacy applications accounted for 85.9% of all domestic RHI applications. Green Business Watch notes that the ratio new installations are increasing, noting that installation numbers have increased month on month. July saw the highest number of new installations registered in the scheme’s history, with 464 installations across the four eligible technologies.
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Commenting on the report, Green Business Watch’s Alastair Kay said: “Given the costs for renewable heating systems, they are never going to be impulse purchases. There is time involved in the purchase decision and then a further lag as the installation works are scheduled and completed so it’s not surprising that the scheme is taking a while to warm up.
“It is great to see numbers improving month on month and hopefully the domestic RHI is doing its job and encouraging homeowners to see renewable heat sources as a viable option.”
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