Many biomass owners have quietly written off their boilers. The RHI closed to new applications years ago, heat policy keeps shifting, and it’s easy to assume renewable heat has had its day. So is biomass heat still worth it? For most existing participants, the answer is a clear yes — and the picture is far more positive than the headlines suggest.
The Sector Just Took a Major Step Forward
This month the industry reached an important milestone. The Wood Fuel and Heating Association (WFHA) has launched as the first trade body dedicated solely to the UK wood fuel and heating sector.
Chaired by Terence McCracken, it brings together fuel producers, distributors, installers and the businesses that operate biomass systems day to day — under a single, organised voice. For an industry that supplies a large share of the UK’s renewable heat, dedicated representation is long overdue, and it matters more than it might first appear.
Why This Matters for Your RHI Payments
The decisions that affect your biomass income aren’t made on your site. They’re made at Ofgem and in Westminster — tariff reviews, audit policy, sustainability rules, and the future treatment of existing accreditations. Until now, the sector has had a quiet, fragmented voice in those rooms. A credible trade body makes sensible, workable rules far more likely.
More immediately, there’s a point many owners overlook: if you hold an RHI accreditation, you were awarded 20 years of support. A system accredited in 2015 still has the better part of a decade of payments left to run. That isn’t a closing scheme — it’s a live, income-generating asset.
What This Means for You
If you operate an accredited biomass system, three things are worth doing now:
- Know your remaining term. Check your accreditation date and how many years of payments you have left. Most owners underestimate it.
- Stay compliant. Your income is only secure while your system meets Ofgem’s requirements. Out-of-date heat meters and missing HETAS servicing records are the two most common reasons payments get reclaimed — see our guides on the 10-year meter rule and HETAS servicing.
- Understand what your system is worth. Accredited systems can change ownership and even location. If yours is underused, the remaining RHI income can be realised through a sale — or, if you need heat, buying an accredited system can turn a fuel bill into an asset. We cover this through our second-hand renewables service.
Our View
So, Is Biomass Heat Still Worth It? In our experience as an RHI consultancy, the businesses that do best from the scheme aren’t the ones with the newest kit — they’re the ones who stay on top of their compliance and understand the value of what they already own. The launch of the WFHA is a clear signal that biomass heat isn’t being left behind. The sector is professionalising, organising, and securing its place in the UK’s renewable heat mix.
Existing participants who keep their systems compliant stand to benefit from that, whatever policy decisions come next.
Useful Links
- Wood Fuel and Heating Association
- Ofgem – Non-Domestic RHI Main Guidance
- Your Energy Source – RHI Compliance & Support
Get in Touch
Not sure how many years of RHI payments you have left, or whether your system is fully compliant? We’ve supported thousands of participants through compliance, audits and system transfers, and we can quickly assess your position.
📞 01324 619 425 📧 rhi@yourenergysource.co.uk 🌐 yourenergysource.co.uk
