Who we are

What is it?

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (Domestic RHI) is a government financial incentive to promote the use of renewable heat. Switching to heating systems that use naturally replenished energy can help the UK reduce its carbon emissions.People who join the scheme and stick to its rules, receive quarterly payments for seven years for the amount of clean, green renewable heat their system produces.

Who's it for?

The scheme’s open to anyone who can meet the joining requirements. It’s for households both off and on the gas grid.People off mains gas have the most potential to save on fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Two schemes: Domestic and Non-Domestic.

The Renewable Heat Incentive has two schemes – Domestic and Non-Domestic. They have separate tariffs, joining conditions, rules and application processes. We administer both.

Each application can only be to one of the schemes. To decide which, consider the below information, alongside our factsheet ‘The Renewable Heat Incentive – Domestic or Non-Domestic?’ in the publications and updates section at the bottom of this page.

Request a quote

The Domestic RHI.

Key to joining is that the renewable heating system heats only a single property which is capable of getting a domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)open key term pop-up. The EPC is the proof we need that your property is assessed as a domestic ‘dwelling’. Without one, you won’t be able to apply and can’t join the scheme.

An EPC gives information about a property’s energy use, plus recommendations on how to reduce energy and save money. It’s required every time you buy, sell or rent a property.

How do heat pumps work?

Generally, if the renewable heating system is in commercial, public or industrial premises, then you would apply to the Non-Domestic RHI.

This can include small and large businesses, hospitals, schools, and organisations with district heating schemes where one heating system serves multiple homes.

Where it’s more complicated.

If your property set-up doesn’t quite fit into standard descriptions, or if your renewable system supplies heat to more than one building, it can be more difficult to decide which scheme to apply to or, if you’d be eligible to join either.

We’ll assess it case by case, but very generally:

Properties with a home office within a house that has, or can get a domestic EPC, should be eligible for the Domestic RHI.
Properties with annexes attached to the house are normally covered by one domestic EPC and should be eligible for the Domestic RHI.
Properties with a main house and a self-contained outbuilding (which have their own separate EPCs), both heated by the same renewable heating system, would not be eligible for the Domestic RHI.