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The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2025, ISBN 9780338025371

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Regulations laid before the Assembly under section 113 of the Energy Act 2011 for approval

Energy

Made 2025

Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1

The Department for the Economy f1 makes the following Regulations in exercise of powers conferred on it by section 113 of the Energy Act 2011f2.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

Formerly the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment; see section 1(3) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 c.5 (NI).

f2

2011 c.16.

Contents

  1. 1Citation and commencement
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Amendments to the principal Regulations
  4. 4Amendments to the principal Regulations
  5. 5Amendments to the principal Regulations
  6. 6Amendments to the principal Regulations
  7. 7Saving provision
  8. Signature
  9. Explanatory note

1Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on the day following the date on which they are approved by resolution of the Assembly.

2Interpretation

(1)

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 f1 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(2)

In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” means the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 f2.

3Amendments to the principal Regulations

The principal Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 4 to 6.

4Amendments to the principal Regulations

For regulation 36(7C), substitute –

“(7C)

The tariffs for accredited RHI installations, whenever accredited, falling within the small or medium biomass tariffs specified in Schedule 5 –

(a)

for the period beginning with the date the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 came into operation and ending with 31st March 2026, are the tariffs specified in Schedule 5;

(b)

for each subsequent year commencing with 1st April and ending with the next 31st March, are the tariffs applicable on the immediately preceding 31st March adjusted by the percentage increase or decrease in the consumer prices index for the previous calendar year (the resulting figure being rounded to the tenth of a penny, with any twentieth of a penny being rounded upwards).”

5Amendments to the principal Regulations

For regulation 36(9C), substitute –-

“(9C)

 Where an accredited RHI installation, whenever accredited, falls within either of the medium biomass tariffs specified in Schedule 5—

(a)

the tariff for the initial heat generated by the installation in any 12 month period commencing with, or with the anniversary of, the date of accreditation is the relevant tier 1 tariff specified in Schedule 5;

(b)

the tariff for further heat generated in that same 12 month period up to a maximum of 400,000 kWhth is the relevant tier 2 tariff specified in Schedule 5; and

(c)

any further heat generated in that same 12 month period shall not be eligible for periodic support payments.”

6Amendments to the principal Regulations

For Schedule 5 (Tariffs for small and medium biomass installations (whenever accredited)), substitute the following–

“SCHEDULE 5

Regulation 36

(Tariffs for small and medium biomass installations (whenever accredited))

Tariff nameSources of energy or TechnologyInstallation capacityTariff Pence/kWh
Small BiomassSolid biomass including solid biomass contained in municipal solid wasteLess than 20kWth

Tier 1: 13.8

Tier 2: 4.8

Medium Biomass

(lower capacity)

As above20kWth and above up to but not including 100kWth

Tier 1: 6.1

Tier 2: 1.7

Medium Biomass

(upper capacity)

As above100kWth and above up to but not including 200kWth

Tier 1: 4.2

Tier 2: 1.5

”

7Saving provision

Notwithstanding regulation 6, Schedule 5, as it had effect immediately before these Regulations came into operation, shall continue to have effect in respect of heat generated before the date these Regulations came into operation as if it had not been amended by these Regulations.

Signature

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for the Economy on

Name

A senior officer of the

Department for the Economy

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 for the purpose of increasing the tariff for periodic support payments made under the Scheme to accredited small and medium biomass installations. The increases are for heat generated from the date these Regulations come into operation. These Regulations fix the tariffs for these installations for heat generated up to the end of March 2026, and those tariffs will then be adjusted in line with increases or decreases in the consumer prices index to give the tariffs for later financial years. These Regulations also alter the zero tariff for heat produced in excess of the (unchanged) initial heat allowance for a medium biomass installation, and set a cap of 400,000kWhth for a medium biomass installation. The Regulations also include a saving provision in respect of heat generated before these regulations come into operation.