Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (NDRHI) update 

In recent weeks Ofgem – administrators of the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (NDRHI) scheme on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) – have been in communication with participants of the scheme.

These communications are regarding participants’ ongoing obligation to have their biomass boiler annually serviced – this is required to comply with the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (NDRHI) scheme requirements.

HETAS has put together this checklist to help participants continue to comply with the requirements of the scheme.

Annual maintenance checklist

The Ofgem communications, which started being sent in mid-May, are designed to remind participants of the requirements they must follow:

1. Their boiler must have an annual maintenance check completed by an accredited HETAS Approved Biomass Maintenance Scheme (HABMS) engineer*.

2. They must retain all evidence issued by HETAS confirming that all annual maintenance checks have been completed. This includes service and maintenance invoices, receipts, or certificates from previous checks.

3. They must check the engineer is registered with HETAS and can provide paperwork confirming the maintenance check. 

Visit the HETAS website for further information.

*an accredited engineer from ‘an equivalent body approved by the Secretary of State’ is also stated within the legislation to be acceptable. As of 26 June 2025, the HABMS is the only scheme recognised by the Secretary of State.

Requests for evidence

Additionally, the email reminder from Ofgem stated that the NDRHI scheme requires participants retain all evidence of HETAS maintenance checks and services.

This evidence must be provided to Ofgem when requested – participants are not required to send this to Ofgem before they ask for it.

Non-compliance

Failure to adhere to this obligation will be treated by Ofgem as a non-compliance issue and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments may be recovered, suspended, or permanently withheld.

Further guidance on RHI scheme compliance and enforcement powers can be found on the Ofgem website in chapter 15 – Compliance and enforcement powers.

HETAS has seen an upturn in searches on the website and work notified by scheme registrants since these communications. As a reminder, our scheme terms and conditions (point 6.4), require notification of maintenance to be completed by the named responsible person/operatives within 30 calendar days of the date of the maintenance work.

Scheme Consultation

The HETAS Approved Biomass Maintenance Scheme has undergone a consultation, launched in April 2025. The review focuses on the competency criteria for complying with MCS040, with a specific review of the largest category of boilers (1000+kW).

Thank you to those who have expressed an interest and provided feedback to date. A further update on the consultation progress will be provided in the future.