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Concerns have been raised by the Ulster Farmers’ Union over calculations included in the Department for the Economy’s (DfE) ongoing consultation on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The consultation document lists eight potential options for long-term tariffs paid under the non-domestic RHI.
Each tariff option includes a total cost to the end of the scheme and a typical annual rate of return for scheme participants.
The calculations were carried out by consultancy firm Ricardo Energy & Environment, after it was commissioned by DfE to review the RHI scheme.
The UFU’s Rural Enterprise Committee met on Monday and its policy officer Chris Osborne said that the committee questioned Ricardo’s calculations for RHI tariff options.
“We cannot see any clear illustration of maintenance costs in their rate of return and their fuel costs have not taken into consideration the increase in wood pellet prices,” Osborne said.
The UFU has written to DfE to express concerns with “key elements of the consultation”.
Meanwhile, the Renewable Heat Association for NI (RHANI) is also analysing the options for long-term RHI tariff rates ahead of consultation closing to responses on 6 September.
“We will be providing our analysis of the proposals to our members and will encourage every one of them to make an individual response. As an association, we will also provide a comprehensive, evidence-based, submission,” RHANI executive chair Andrew Trimble said.
SHARING OPTIONS: