Challenges for the Implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive – An example from a school refurbishment geothermal scheme

•The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) aims to incentivise renewable heat uptake across the UK.•A school geothermal refurbishment project adopts heat pumps, made viable because of the RHI payments.•Initial analysis suggests that consideration of the RHI's accreditation and metering requirements during planning, construction and installation phases is crucial to a project's future viability.

The Government run UK Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme allows cash back payments to be made to producers of renewable heat. As a world first for renewable heat, it aims to tackle head on the issues surrounding emissions, energy use, and climate change targets. However, whilst the scheme goes a long way towards meeting these climate change targets, issues have been identified that may compromise its effectiveness. This paper aims to examine the progress of the RHI since its launch in November 2011, and avenues towards a more effective deployment.