Golf clubs can apply for RHI
29th November, 2011 by Colin Victor
Golf clubs can now apply for the lucrative Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – a government-backed scheme that will pay them for generating heat and hot water via renewable heating technologies.
As from November 28, 2011, clubs can apply to Ofgem provided they installed heat-generating renewable technologies including biomass boilers, solar thermal systems and heat pumps since July 15, 2009.
The RHI will pay up to 7.9p/kWh for biomass boilers, 8.5p/kWh for solar thermal systems and up to 4.5p/kWh for heat pumps. Organisations will receive payments based on the metered amount of heat generated on a quarterly basis for heat generated, guaranteed for 20 years.
A spokesman said: “The RHI saves you money by eliminating or reducing your need for gas or oil, both of which are becoming increasingly expensive year-on-year. The average return on investment will be around 12 per cent per annum.
“Pyecombe Golf Club in Sussex installed a ground source heat pump instead of replacing a boiler last year. It provides hot water for showers, hand basins and kitchen use, and the new system of radiators, and has cut the club’s heating consumption by over a third as well as reducing its CO2 emissions. The club can expect to cover the extra capital costs of the heat pump installation over a straight replacement of its old system within 10 years.”
The government recently reduced a similar scheme for renewable technology that produced electricity, the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), following significant demand from energy consumers.