On 31 July last, I launched a consultation on the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to incentivise larger heat users in the industrial and commercial sector to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. While the initial phase of the consultation closed on 18 September 2015, there will be two further opportunities to contribute at key stages in the design of the scheme. The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the RHI scheme in place in 2016. There are no plans at this time to introduce such a scheme for domestic heat users.