OFTEC and UKIFDA have called on the government to keep a commitment consult on the rollout of renewable liquid fuels for home heating. The trade associations have also urged consumers to write to their MP.
It follows the one year anniversary of the Energy Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming an official act of parliament.
The Act gives the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband the power to help off-grid rural communities by introducing a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation (RLHFO). According to a statement, this would reduce the cost to consumers, at no cost to the government, of using renewable liquid heating fuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), instead of the current fossil fuel kerosene.
Paul Rose, CEO of OFTEC, and Ken Cronin, CEO of UKIFDA, stated: “A year ago, political leaders in Westminster made a commitment to off-grid households to hold a consultation on renewable liquid fuels. It followed mounting evidence and concern that many consumers would face significant costs if they were given no choice and forced to electrify their heating systems.
“The deadline for this promise has passed and we have yet to hear any update. Whilst Labour weren’t in government at the time, they supported the legislation. Off-grid households are often overlooked and misunderstood but they have every right to expect that commitments made in Westminster about their future are upheld.
“Following significant investment by our industry, we demonstrated in real world scenarios that HVO is a viable low carbon solution. Whilst electrification has an important role to play, the cost and disruption is a huge barrier for many and would take many years to put in place.
“Our solution is ready to go, will meet the next carbon budgets and we have the workforce primed to start. By going down this route we will also reduce the impact on the electricity grid which will contribute to meeting the government’s ambitions of clean power by 2030.
“We fully support Labour’s decarbonisation agenda, but this can only be achieved through pragmatism and consumer choice. We will continue to work positively with the new Labour government to deliver a low carbon future. For the hardest to treat off-grid households, publishing the renewable liquid fuel consultation is an important first step.”