Sustainable Building Solutions (SBS), part of the Travis Perkins Group, is calling for the plumbing and heating industry to keep Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) awareness high on its agenda by proactively encouraging greater levels of installer training and mentorship support.
The number of accredited installations has now reached an encouraging total of 34,000 as at the end of May, just over one year on from the launch of the domestic RHI. Around 11,000 of these were new installations during the year, with 23,000 being legacy installations. With SBS predicting an on-going appetite for the scheme, it is emphasising the importance of training if high-quality installation standards are to be sustained and uptake is to remain strong.
Steve Alldritt, SBS technical director, said: “The biomass market received a massive boost from the RHI in its first year due to a favourable tariff rate, with huge activity spikes in December 2014 and March 2015, but that has weakened since due to tariff reductions. Air source heat pumps have also had a lift from the RHI – with five heat pump applications for every one biomass in recent months – and this is a key area where we believe the RHI can help installers looking to expand their business and for homeowners looking to save energy and money.
“On going awareness raising and investment in training is vital if the advantages of the RHI are going to be capitalised upon; we have seen this first-hand with SBS customers who are enjoying an additional profit stream following training and mentorship through our own courses and support services.”
SBS, through its partner, Toriga, offers a nationwide network of Green Deal assessors to assist installers, or alternatively can help installers to become registered Green Deal advisors upon completion of domestic energy assessor and Green Deal advisor training. The Toriga assessment software will also enable installers to easily calculate the benefits of a RHI installation for each homeowner.
SBS offers training for RHI through nationwide branches of PTS, CPS, and Travis Perkins, facilitated by its partner, PPL Training. The courses include Microgeneration Certification Scheme registration, renewable heating, and heat meter installation. Mentoring for the Green Deal can be accessed through Easy Green Deal, with accreditation through NICEIC.