Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Non-Domestic RHI closure

The Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (NDRHI) in Great Britain closed to new applicants on 31 March 2021. There are some circumstances under which an application for accreditation or registration can be made post-scheme closure, including those that have been granted an extension application or have a Tariff Guarantee extended commissioning date. 

Click below for more information. 

Visit the NDRHI closure page

Participants

Once accredited, do I need to do anything?

As a participant of the NDRHI, we can pay you for up to 20 years as long as you continue to meet all of the scheme’s requirements.

As a participant, you’ll have a number of responsibilities that relate to you and your renewable heating system. These are called ‘ongoing obligations’. You need to comply with all of your ongoing obligations to continue to receive payments and avoid any enforcement action being taken.

To find out what your ongoing obligations are, please read our ongoing obligations and payments guidance. If you are unable to meet any of these obligations, you need let us know within 28 days.

How do I manage my account?

The NDRHI register allows you to view your existing applications, sign your annual declarations, submit your meter readings, fuel measurements and update your personal details. Our helpful guide to using the NDRHI Register can be found RHI Register External User Guide.

You may find our guide to using the NDRHI Register helpful.

Using the correct fuel

If you use biomass, biogas or produce biomethane for injection, there are additional ongoing obligations you need to adhere to. You must keep all fuel receipts and store your fuel correctly. You should also log the quantity of fuel used (for biomass systems) or, if harvesting from your own woodland, a log of deliveries made to the boiler house including a record of where the harvest has taken place must be kept.

Read our guidance documents listed below to ensure you’re compliant:

  • Chapter 3 of guidance volume 2
  • Easy guide to sustainability
  • Self-reporting guidance
  • Guide to keeping fuel records for biomass.

Specific rules were recently introduced for biomass fuel users, read the rules for biomass page to ensure you’re compliant.

Metering, monitoring, and maintaining your equipment

All participants need to provide meter readings taken at the same time each year (known as periodic data submissions) on a quarterly basis to receive payments. For installations over 1MWth, you will need to do this monthly. You are permitted to take the reading at any point during a three-day window on either side of the period's reading date. (For example, if your period's reading date is 10 July, you could take it any time between 7 July and 13 July).

Full guidance on what you need to do, things to look out for and fueling obligations can be found on our metering page.

You must maintain your equipment and periodically check that all meters and steam measuring equipment for any errors. You must also ensure all meters and steam measuring equipment are located in accordance with any conditions of your accreditation. You must keep a record of your maintenance schedule and retain service receipts.

Be advised that all meters and steam measuring equipment must be re-calibrated or replaced in line with manufacturer instructions or every 10 years, which ever date is sooner. Full information on equipment maintenance and recalibration can be found in chapter 7 of our Guidance Volume 2: Ongoing obligations and payment.

What is an annual declaration?

Every year we’ll ask you to confirm a number of statements relating to you and your RHI installation, including that you continue to meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme and are complying with your responsibilities.

We’ll remind you of your annual declaration deadline by email (or by post if that’s how you applied). To sign an annual declaration, the Authorised Signatory will need to log into the RHI Register and select the Declarations link. You must complete your annual declaration within 28 days, or we may suspend your payments.

If you are self-reporting on the sustainability requirements, depending on your technology type and capacity, you may be required to submit an independent annual sustainability audit report. You can find further information in the Self-Reporting Guidance.

Selling your installation

If you wish to sell your Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive accredited installation as an ongoing asset on the NDRHI scheme, you are able to do so by filling in a Change of Ownership (CoO) form on the NDRHI Register. 

What happens if I need to repair, replace or relocation my renewable installation?

As installations are accredited on the NDRHI scheme for 20 years, we know that you may suffer irreparable damage or choose to relocate your business in this time. To maintain your accreditation, we have a dedicated Replacement and Relocation team who facilitate the transfer of your accreditation between installations/locations.

Keeping us informed

To remain compliant with the scheme regulations, you must:

  • Tell us about any significant changes to your installation or heat use.
  • Tell us about any changes to ownership. Old owners must submit a change of ownership form via the RHI register within 28 days. New owners must contact RHI.accountchanges@ofgem.gov.uk within a year – for more information please see pages 13-14 of our Easy Guide to Account Changes
  • Tell us about any relocation of an accredited NDRHI installation within 28 days of the move date. When relocated we will determine whether the installation should continue to be accredited and if so, you will continue to receive payments. For more information see page 106 of our Guidance Vol. 2.
  • Tell us if you intend to or have had to replace your installation. We will determine if your like for like replacement installation should continue to be accredited. For more information see page 106 of our Guidance Vol. 2.
  • Submit an annual declaration confirming compliance with your ongoing obligations.

If you think you’re not complying with any of the above, or any other ongoing obligation, you must tell us within 28 days.

For further information, see Guidance Volume 2, Chapters 3-5.

Keeping to the rules

It’s important you stay within the rules of the scheme. We can withhold payments if we believe you aren't complying or if your heating system was accredited based on incorrect information. We'll inform you in writing of any investigation. If it confirms the non-compliance, we may impose sanctions which can include suspending payments, recovering overpayments, and/or revoking accreditation under the scheme.

Find out more about complying with the rules.

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