Early results from UK wide trials of a renewable alternative to kerosene suggest that the new liquid fuel works in virtually all existing oil heating systems with simple modifications while reducing carbon emissions by almost 90%, OFTEC has reported.
Nineteen sites across the country are now running Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in a range of heating and cooking appliances in both domestic and commercial settings. The fuel is made from fossil free, sustainable waste materials and certified via the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme.
Each HVO installation has been monitored regularly and, to date, the systems have performed well with “no significant issues”.
The trials are coordinated by OFTEC and the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA), with each of the current sites run by members including Watson Fuels, NWF Fuels, Oil 4 Wales, Mitchell & Webber, James D Bilsland Ltd, Crown Oil and EOGB.
OFTEC and UKIFDA plan to expand the project over the coming months and have also applied for government funding to enable a further 100 homes to join the trial for the 2021/22 winter heating season.
OFTEC CEO Paul Rose said: “The initial trial results are highly encouraging and add further evidence to our belief that HVO offers oil heated households an attractive, low cost, low disruption solution to decarbonisation.
“Converting properties from heating oil to HVO is a simple process that costs around £500 compared to the thousands of pounds it currently costs to install a completely new low carbon heating system and the associated fabric improvements required for many hard to treat homes.
“Crucially, at almost 90%, the carbon savings achieved are significant and would enable government’s decarbonisation goals to be met quickly and more cheaply. This solution would also prove far more effective in the high number of distress purchase situations that commonly occur when a boiler needs changing, ensuring customers are not left without heat for long periods.
“Improving the thermal efficiency of UK homes should continue to be the goal, but in cases where the cost to achieve this is high and the solutions less obvious, a renewable liquid fuel solution would allow customers to carry out the work at a more gradual, cost effective pace. This approach will likely be better received by homeowners.”