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HVO also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil is a sustainable fuel source made from certified waste fats and oils. It is a cleaner and greener alternative to kerosene and is perfect for off those who live in grid properties.
We have regularly highlighted that decarbonising the UK’s domestic heating is not and cannot be a one size fits all approach. Having a heat pump installed should be by choice of the homeowner and is dependant on many factors, for example cost and property suitability.
Under current government proposals (remember its only a proposal not law) off grid properties from 2026 will be not be able to buy a new oil boiler. Instead a heat pump will be the preferred option. Heat pumps can be at least 3 times more expensive than a conventional boiler and may be inappropriate and ineffective in your home.
Therefore OFTEC, many rural MP’s and thousands of home owners are urging the government to consider the use of HVO bio fuel for their oil boiler.
HVO has more than proven its carbon lowering properties and its plentiful supply puts it as the perfect alternative fuel source to kerosene.
Converting a standard oil boiler to run of HVO usually takes a few hours and has an estimated cost of around £500 per property. Upon conversion the emissions are instantly reduced by 88%!
In fact a highly successful two year project in Cornwall has further secured the notion of HVO being rolled out across the whole of the UK and N.I. The project was backed by OFTEC and UKIFDA. The project has further highlighted consumers desire to be able to have a choice how they heat their home.
OFTEC, numerous MP’s and thousands of home owners across the country are calling on the government to amend its Energy Bill to mirror for home heating the current scheme in place for HVO’s use in transport. This would greatly reduce the cost of HVO allowing oil users to seamlessly transfer over to HVO.
George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle is a firm believer in helping rural homeowners transition towards greener heating using HVO and has been pressing the government to make amendments to the Energy Bill.
He recently commented in the Telegraph ‘In recent years, great progress has been made in improving the performance and expanding the supply of renewable liquid fuels. For just a couple of hundred pounds, an existing kerosene boiler can be converted to run-on hydrotreated vegetable oil made from waste cooking oil or vegetable waste.
Facilitating that switch would reduce carbon emissions by 88 per cent far faster than the current approach could and at a fraction of the cost. It is exactly the sort of innovative solution this government should back and exactly why we should not feel constrained by the dogma of outdated strategies.
When the Energy Bill returns to Parliament this autumn, I hope the Government takes the opportunity to change its approach and support rural communities.’
Following the conclusion of the Energy Bill Report Stage, we are pleased that a renewable liquid heating fuel amendment to the Energy Bill, proposed by the Secretary of State Claire Coutinho has been accepted. This brings the introduction of HVO biofuel one step closer to being an accepted fuel source and one that is comparative cost to kerosene.
This amendment will require the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to deliver a consultation on a renewable liquid heating fuel obligation within 12 months of the Bill receiving Royal Assent.
As soon as we have further information, we will of course provide an update.
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