RHI runs risk of stop-start programme

Worcester Bosch, the heating, hot water and renewable manufacturer, is warning that the Government’s RHI programme could run out of steam.

The RHI Premium Payment, which starts this week, has been welcomed by the heating industry, but Neil Schofield, head of external and governmental affairs at Worcester, Bosch Group, says: “The Government has made it clear that the Premium Payment will only run until March 2012 which leaves a six month gap until the real start of the RHI.

“What’s more, statistics from the Energy Savings Trust suggest that there is already strong interest in the Premium Payment with 2,700 households already having registered their interest and there is a real danger that the £15 million set aside for the Premium Payment will run out well in advance of March 2012.”

He says that, welcome as it is, there is a danger of “a mad rush for registrations before the money runs out”; a similar situation occurred a few years ago whensolar installations were in place and the money was frequently all claimed on the first day.

“This onrush of people wanting installations may end up with good installers not being able to provide the quick turnaround required and the not so good installers picking up this work.”

He continued: “The Government has made it clear that there will be no increase on the £860 million that has been set aside for the RHI. With a six month delay already built-in from October to March next year we also risk a stop-start approach to installations which will make it very difficult for installers, particularly those who are basing a large percentage of their business around renewable technologies.”