Renewable Heat Premium Payments (RHPP)

These have finally been announced and commence from 1 August 2011.  They offer £1,250 towards Ground Source Heat Pumps and £850 towards Air Source Heat Pumps.  As will all Government Incentives, the funds are limited and will last only to 31 March 2012 (or sooner depending on uptake).  If you are considering installing one of these Heat Pumps, there has never been a better time - talk to us soon. More details can be found on   http://bit.ly/oHnOa5

Feed In Tariff Review

The Government lost its appeal against the Court ruling in December that its proposals to change the FiT tariff rates for smaller scale solar PV were unlawful. However, the Government is now seeking leave to appeal to the higher level – the Supreme Court.

This means that the Government cannot legislate to apply new tariffs from 1 April 2012 to installations that took place between 12 December 2011 and before 2 March 2012. The Government did however lay legislation to reduce the tariff for new installations in Parliament on 19 January 2012. It will come into effect on 3 March 2012 and will apply to all installations with an eligibility date on or after this date.

What this means is that any installation that takes place between 3 and 31 March will receive 43.3p/kWh in respect of generation until 31 March 2012 and 21p in respect of generation after 1 April 2012.

Until the outcome of the appeal is known, the Government cannot provide any certainty to consumers with installations that take place between 12 December 2011 and 2 March 2012. However, the Government has confirmed that these consumers will not receive a tariff lower than 21p (plus RPI index link) for 25 years.

The government's review of the FITs has been published on 9 June 2011.  The following reductions in Feed in Tariff will apply for all installations completed after 1 August 2011.  The tariff levels for all PV installations above 50kW are reduced to the following rates:

System type                   System size                 Generation tariff

Retrofit & new build      50kW - 150kW                19.0 p/kWh

Retrofit & new build      150kW - 250kW              15.0 p/kWh

Retrofit & new build      250kW - 5MW                   8.5 p/kWh

Stand-alone                    Up to 5MW                         8.5 p/kWh

There  are no transitional arrangements for projects already in the pipeline, which can't realistically register by 1st August.  The DECC Feed In Tariff Review can be found in full detail here  URL: http://bit.ly/j0DFCU

Renewable Heat Incentive

Yet more delays in the  launch of phase 1 (commercial) element of the renewable heat incentive (RHI).. Ofgem consultation now issued on how the RHI payments may be calculated/paid   http://bit.ly/qPMnEp

Further proposals in respect of the Domestic element of the renewable heat incentive are to be announced later in 2011.  Renewable heat incentive payments thought to be made from Autumn 2012 as part of the Green Deal for qualifying installations carried out since 2009.  Air source Heat Pumps excluded from the initial commercial phase as work continues to better understand air to air efficiencies by the UK Government but expected to be included for Domestic phase of the RHI (further clarity from DECC still awaited).

Mandatory Air Conditioning Assessments from January 2011

From 4 January 2011, Air conditioning systems with a cumulative effective rated output of greater than 12kw must be in possession of an air conditioning assessment report for the system.

Air conditioning systems that were first put into service on or after 1 January 2008 must have their first inspection completed within 5 years of the date they were first put into service.  We have qualified staff who can complete this work and issue the necessary legal reports.  Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Warning - End of R22

From 1st January 2010, manufacture of ozone-depletive HCFC Refrigerant R22 ceased as required by the Montreal Protocol, and only recovered and recycled R22 will be available. From 2015, the use of R22 from any source will be illegal.  Air conditioning systems over 5 years old have around a 50% chance of being R22 based, and systems over 10 years old over 85%.

R22 costs will escalate as supply diminishes and as the final cut-off date approaches, demand for replacement systems will inevitably increase with the attendant rise in costs.

A programme of R22-based system replacement should be in position NOW, and Total Environmental will be happy to inspect your installations for R22 based systems and assist in preparing a costed programme for its early replacement.

Close Control Turnkey Project in Norway completed early.

Total Environmental Kooling were appointed by a major metrology manufacturer to design, supply, install, commission and set to work a close control metrology facility at a multi-national marine engineering facility in Norway.

Having agreed the design, all components were shipped to Norway, where our team of specialist builders, electricians and air conditioning engineers constructed the 13 metre by 8 metre chamber and fitted the ventilation ductwork and base electrical services by 23 July 2010, a month ahead of programme.

Commissioning took place in mid-August, following the installation of the specialist measuring equipment for which the facility was designed.

The space is controlled at 20OC +/- 1OC  and humidity at 45% +/- 10%.