Businesses and communities across Britain will from Monday be able to apply for a heat tariff payment, ushering in a new era of clean green heat technology, Greg Barker said today.

The world's first Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will be open to applicants from Monday 28 November, providing payments for heat generated from renewable technologies including biomass boilers, solar thermal equipment and heat pumps installed since 15 July 2009.

Recipients will be paid up to 7.9p per kWh for biomass boilers, 8.5p per kWh for solar thermal and up to 4.5p per kWh for heat pumps.

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Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: "The RHI will usher in a new era in clean green heat technology. It’s a world first and has the potential to put the UK at the forefront of a vibrant new green technology sector.

"Renewable heat will be a big win for our economy – it will support thousands of green jobs, reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels, reduce our carbon emissions and help us meet our renewable target."

The RHI has a key role to play in meeting the UK's 2020 renewables target, will help reduce the UK's dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and will cut emissions by 43 million tonnes of carbon by 2020 - equivalent to the annual carbon emitted by 19 typical new gas power stations. Up to 500,000 jobs are expected to be created in the renewables industry as a whole by the end of the decade.

The start of the scheme follows a short delay while DECC resolved the scheme’s compatibility with EU state aid rules. Organisations will be able to apply to Ofgem for support under the scheme from Monday 28 November and will receive payments on a quarterly basis for heat generated over 20 years.

(CD)