What is DfE’s role?
The Department for the Economy (DfE) is responsible for implementing appropriate policy that will support the development of renewable heat technologies.
NI Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Schemes
In order to increase the proportion of heat generated from renewable sources, the Department introduced the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2012 and the domestic RHI in 2014.
Domestic RHI
The domestic RHI provides domestic properties with payments for the use of an eligible renewable heat technology. The scheme closed to new applications on 29 February 2016. This scheme is administered by the Department.
Information on the domestic RHI scheme is available on the nidirect website. Queries on the domestic RHI can also be directed to ni.rhi@economy-ni.gov.uk or 0300 200 7874.
Non-domestic RHI
This scheme closed to new applicants on 29 February 2016.
The non-domestic scheme is administered by the energy regulator for Great Britain, Ofgem.
Voluntary Buy-Out Arrangements
The window for applications for the 2019/20 voluntary buy-out arrangements for non-domestic RHI scheme participants with small and medium sized biomass installations (up to but not including 200kW) closed on 8 November 2019.
More information can be found at the following link:
More useful links
- Consultation on the future of the NI non-domestic RHI
- The future of the RHI presentation (May 2018)
- List of RHI non-domestic beneficiaries - individuals and companies
- Information on renewable energy (nidirect)
- Northern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy Act) 2019
- Northern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy Act) 2018
- RHI Regulations 2012 - 2017 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Renewable Heat study executive summary
- Factsheet - Grants and other public support and state aid