Leaders urge for solar thermal retention in RHI

Six months since the Renewable Heat Incentive consultation, 21 organisations representing the solar industry have argued that the industry needs certainty to invest.

The group, representing the solar industry, local government, manufacturers, housing providers, land owners, and environmental campaigners, have backed a letter to Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property, urging her to retain solar thermal within the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The organisations believe that solar thermal is an internationally proven technology with the potential to play a major role in decarbonising the UK’s domestic and commercial sectors, due to its negligible running costs and suitability for homes in fuel poverty.

Instead of cutting solar thermal from the RHI the organisations signing the letter argue that the government should expand the number of applications of solar thermal allowed.

The letter reads: “With continued support from government under the Renewable Heat Incentive, solar thermal has the opportunity to contribute to ever-wider range of applications, including district heating, space heating, industrial process heating, and valuable integration with other renewable heating technologies. The scope for solar thermal to displace fossil heating in industrial process heating is remarkable. Analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that solar thermal technologies could technically provide nearly half of heat demand in the industrial sector, displacing large amounts of carbon.”

Paul Barwell, chief executive of the Solar Trade Association, commented: “The industry is still in limbo as it waits for the government’s response. We hope the government rethinks their proposal. However it is urgent that we get a decision quickly to end this uncertainty.”