The RHI scheme is changing on April 1st, 2022 – act soon to prevent disruption

Firstly, if you supply your own wood fuel or supply others or both, you are required to become Woodsure approved or equivalent by April 1st, 2022 to continue creating ‘RHI eligible’ fuel, whether that be for yourself or for customers or both. This does not replace the requirement for BSL approval or self-reporting in order to claim RHI monies and only applies to non-waste wood fuel.

Our separate wood supply company, Dyfed Powys Wood Fuels is aiming at being woodsure approved soon for wood chips, possibly for other fuels in the future. We can assist you in gaining approval. Customers are advised to leave at least a month to await approval after a full application is made (which requires substantial work first).

Waste fuel has its own existing requirements such as environmental exemptions, licences, and appropriate emissions certificates covering the type of waste.

Secondly, as of the same date, all biomass boilers will require a planned and preventative maintenance contract each year to continue claiming RHI monies. The maintenance must be carried out by HETAS-approved engineers, be documented and at least one visit is needed per year, depending on running hours. Maintenance documents are to be supplied to HETAS for Ofgem inspection. DC2 Engineering plans to be approved this scheme in time for the deadline to minimise customer disruption.

Any customers who have an extension application approved will be required to commission their systems in time for the end of March 2022, in order to maintain their extension application. However, there is a possibility this will be extended in line with the recent BEIS proposal to extend the deadline for commissioning for eligible TG2, TG3, and extension applications from 31 March 2022 to 31 March 2023. We will update you on this when we know more, this likely won’t be until January 2022 at the earliest.

Please be aware, that taking the full year up to 31/03/2022 means 1 less year can be claimed on the tariff and if the proposal allows another year, this may mean up to 2 years less tariff may be claimed if taking the entire period to commission compared with commissioning March 2021.

Lastly, There will be no grace period after 31 March 2022 for domestic RHI applications. Plants must meet all eligibility criteria before this date i.e. MCS certificated, commissioned, and all other criteria. The final payment date is 31/03/2029

As always we will endeavour to assist you in meeting your obligations as best we can – just let us know and we can work with you.

Please also be aware it is the full responsibility of the site to:

Arrange appropriate maintenance annually or more if needed

Keep detailed fuel production and use records

Keep detailed sustainability and legality evidence and records for raw materials bought or harvested

Keep detailed maintenance and heat use records

Only use fuels listed within the emissions certificates for the relevant boiler

Inform Ofgem of any changes to the system or heat use within 28 days

Only use heat for eligible purposes as originally described on the application unless you are certain you have informed Ofgem of any new heat uses (and metered separately if needed)

If in doubt of your obligations and for full requirements, get in touch or look for Ofgem guides on compliance, record keeping, and more.