“Our RHI Payback will be £ 20k!”

Because of its remote location, this 400m2 self-build in the Scottish Highlands was off the gas grid, so Derry and Susan Young were looking for renewable heating options. They initially looked into a biomass system. However, to make it cost-effective the pellets would have to be delivered in bulk, and this required building aseven-tonne pellet store. Instead the couple opted for a ground source heat pump, which due to its Domestic RHI payback and efficiencies was the greenest and most cost-effective option available.

“Ensure that your home is well insulated and built to the best possible specification that you can afford,” suggests Derry. “The aim is to get the heat load down as low as possible so that the heat pump will operate more efficiently. Also make sure your heating distribution system allows the heat pump to work as efficiently as possible.” It is estimated that the payback from the 21kw Kensa Hybrid ground source heat pump will be more than £20,000 over the seven year period with an additional £3,000 from the solar thermal, plus the associated fuel cost savings.