The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations 2018

Eligible installations which are shared ground loop systems

11.—(1) This regulation applies if the plant is a shared ground loop system which complies with the requirements in paragraphs (2) and (4).

(2) Each ground source heat pump which forms part of the shared ground loop system must comply with the following requirements—

(a) it was first commissioned as part of the shared ground loop system on or after 14th December 2016;

(b) it generates heat using naturally occurring energy;

(c) in the case of a ground source heat pump installed in domestic premises with an installed peak heat output capacity of 45kWth or less, it meets the requirements in regulation 18;

(d) it has a coefficient of performance of at least 2.9;

(e) it is designed and installed to operate with a seasonal performance factor of at least 2.5;

(f) where it is capable of heating and cooling and is not installed in domestic premises, a design heat load for the ground source heat pump has been calculated in accordance with BS EN 12831:2003;

(g) where it is installed in domestic premises, an EPC must have been issued for that premises and one of the following requirements must be met—

(i) the property is a new-build property; or

(ii) the period commencing with the date on which the EPC was issued and ending on the date of application under regulation 30 is less than 24 months and the requirements in paragraph (5) are met.

(3) The requirement in paragraph (2)(b) is deemed to be satisfied where, in addition to using naturally occurring energy in the form of heat, the ground source heat pump—

(a) uses solar energy which—

(i) has been gathered by any means other than by a solar collector which is an accredited RHI installation; and

(ii) is stored in the ground in the form of heat;

(b) uses heat from space cooling or process cooling; or

(c) uses heat from processes other than the generation of heat.

(4) The shared ground loop system must be designed and installed to operate with a seasonal performance factor of at least 2.5.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(g)(ii), the requirements in this paragraph are met if the EPC—

(a) does not include a recommendation report;

(b) includes a recommendation report which does not recommend that loft insulation or cavity wall insulation is installed; or

(c) includes a recommendation report which recommends that loft insulation or cavity wall insulation is installed, but that insulation cannot be installed as its installation—

(i) is prevented by restrictions on the building as a consequence of its status as a listed building, its location in a conservation area or the material impact that such installation would have on a species protected in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(1);

(ii) would otherwise be unlawful; or

(iii) is not feasible due to local environmental conditions or the structure of the property.

(1)

1981 c.69.