We applied for the Feed-in-Tariff (TiF) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for our solar PV and air source heat pump respectively, and the process has been remarkably different.
We managed to get our solar PV array installed in mid-March, just in time to register for the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) before the government scheme expired at the of March, 2019.
At the time, our energy provider was OVO Energy, so we opted to register our FiT with them. We got all the required paperwork from our installers, completed the form and submitted it to OVO’s FiT team.
Within a couple of weeks we were fully registered and ready to go. It was relatively straightforward. We’ve also submitted our first metre readings and our first payment has been received.
As a process, we receive a quarterly email from OVO requesting our solar output that we get from our production metre. We provide them with the reading, and our payments are processed.
Comparatively speaking, the RHI application process has not been as simple, nor has it been quick.
We submitted our application via the website with all the required documentation; they requested more information, which we submitted before all the imposed deadlines.
We followed up on a fortnightly basis, with occasional responses that our application was being processed.
Last week, about six months after applying, we finally got the welcome email, and we are now fully registered. We also received confirmation that we’d receive our first payment within 10 days.
From this point forward, things should operate more efficiently as everything should automated. We will provide our metre readings, and the payments should follow.
We will provide regular updates on the payments and processes for both the FiT and RHI going forward.
Hi there,
I have been a regular visitor to your inspiring and informative site.
At the present moment Iam waiting to obtain a second quote for my ASHP.
However, I am debating whether to have solar PV or just install solar thermal panels instead.
I would like to know why did you choose an ASHP or solar thermal panels for your home?
Kind regards,
Lisa-Marie
Thanks for the comments and question Lisa-Marie. Not sure if you saw this, but we did share how and why we chose an air source heat pump to heat our home, and discuss some our experiences with installers in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF-A4dun8Tc
Pertaining to solar PV, we wanted to reduce our carbon footprint and solar panels were a logical step. In addition to this, they work hand in hand with the ASHP in autumn and late spring.