Aberdeen Council has launched the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for domestic properties in the area.

The RHI is a government initiative that rewards people for generating and using heat from renewable sources, such as air-source and ground-source heat pumps, solar (thermal) panels) generating hot water, and wood-fuel boilers.

First proposed in 2009, the RHI was implemented for commercial and industrial properties two years later, while plans to expand the scheme to domestic properties was postponed.

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The capital costs of the installations can be high, but it has been said that the repayments from the domestic RHI should repay the investment. Payments are based on a property's estimated heat use, and paid quarterly over a period of seven years.

Peter Argyle, Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC), said: "The council welcomes the launch of the RHI for domestic heat users, as it has the potential to transform the way we heat our homes.

"This will be especially beneficial to those in rural areas using expensive forms of heat such as oil, bottled gas and electricity."

ISC Vice Chair, Alan S. Buchan, added: "Renewable heat is one of the pillars of our strategy for reducing CO2 emissions and becoming carbon neutral as a local authority. This scheme will contribute to sustainability goals for the region."

(JP/MH)