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<p>The Department runs a number of schemes to encourage the wider use of green energy
sources.</p><p> </p><p>The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme promotes the uptake
of renewable heat technologies through financial incentives. The Non-domestic RHI
is open to both private industry and the public sector, and the Domestic RHI is open
to domestic consumers. The scheme has funding confirmed until 2021. Beyond this, the
Department is developing policy proposals for a clear framework to phase out high
carbon fossil fuels for domestic and non-domestic buildings off the gas grid in the
2020s.</p><p> </p><p>The Contracts for Difference Scheme is our main mechanism for
supporting new large scale renewable energy generation projects. The next competitive
allocation round for less established technologies such as offshore wind will open
by May 2019, with subsequent auctions around every two years, using the £557 million
that was announced as part of the 2016 Budget.</p><p> </p><p>The Feed-In Tariffs (FITs)
scheme has also been successful in attracting investment in small-scale (up to 5MW)
low carbon electricity generation since it was introduced in 2010. The Government
announced the closure of the FITs generation tariff on 1 April 2015 and has recently
consulted on closing the export tariff. We are currently considering options for small-scale
low carbon generation beyond April 2019 and will make a statement in due course.</p>
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