From autumn 2015, all Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) participants need to report evidence to Ofgem that the fuel they burn is sustainable.
The simplest way of demonstrating that your fuel is sustainable is by registering or purchasing fuel from an approved suppliers list, for wood fuels this is the Biomass Suppliers List (BSL). It is not mandatory to use the BSL, as it is acceptable to report your compliance directly to Ofgem, this is called self - reporting and for some this will be the only way. You will need to demonstrate compliance against greenhouse gas target emissions and land criteria. This guide will explain the criteria and the BSL in more detail.
What the new criteria means for you
It is essential that you keep good records of fuel supply and use as Ofgem may request this at any time.
Biomass Suppliers List
If you burn wood or you are a wood fuel supplier, we recommend that you use the Biomass Suppliers List (BSL). The benefits to using the BSL are:
- The application procedure builds in the calculation of GHG.
- Your quarterly reports will require less information than if you self-reported.
- If your boiler is <1MW you won’t need to provide annual independent audits of your GHG and land criteria assessment.
- If you buy your fuel from someone on the list then you will have met the sustainability criteria.
- Suppliers will also be able to label their compliant products with the BSL mark to illustrate that this fuel complies with the RHI sustainability criteria.
If you are a fuel supplier and fuel self-supplier, you will be put into a category depending on how you source and use your wood. Our table below explains each category.
Self-suppliers will also be able to source wood fuel from outside their estate for use in their installation, provided it is a BSL approved fuel. To register on the Biomass Suppliers List go to:
http://biomass-suppliers-list.service.gov.uk/
| Producer | Produces biomass fuel from a raw material. The processing of the raw material may take place on a number of sites, provided they are controlled by the producer. A producer cannot sell directly to RHI scheme participants, but rather must be registered as a ‘Producer – Trader’ or sell to a ‘Trader’ (see below). |
| Trader | Buys biomass fuel and sells it to end consumers or other traders. |
| Producer-trader | Combines the roles of Producer and Trader as defined above. |
| Self-supplier | RHI participants will be able to register on the BSL as a ‘selfsupplier’ if their installation is less than 1MW capacity and if they source fuel from their estate. |
Self-reporting
If your biomass boiler is <1MW and you burn non-wood fuels as described on your emissions certificate, you will need to calculate your GHG figure for each consignment of fuel you use each quarter in one of the following ways:
- Use the default value published in the Draft Guidance.(see Ofgem website)
- Calculate the actual value by using the Carbon Calculator.
- Calculate the actual value yourself by following the Draft Guidance on how to do this.
You will also need to demonstrate that the fuel does not come from a protected land source either through a recognised voluntary scheme or by providing evidence of where the biomass was sourced. Evidence can take the form of aerial photographs, satellite images, maps, land register entries and site surveys.
If your system is >1MW and you do not source your fuel from BSL, you will need to self-report as above and also carry out annual independent audits.
