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A workable, future proof solution for off-grid
OFTEC AND THE FEDERATION OF PETROLEUM SUPPLIERS (FPS) HAVE REQUESTED URGENT CLARIFICATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ENERGY & INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY (BEIS) OVER THE CARBON REDUCTION TARGETS THE OIL
HEATING SECTOR IS EXPECTED TO MEET UNDER THE CLEAN GROWTH STRATEGY
T
he call follows concerns that the current lack
of information is hindering industry’s progress
towards developing an alternative low carbon
liquid fuel solution to heat the UK’s 1.5 million oil-using
homes into the future.
Since May, representatives from OFTEC and FPS
have been working closely with BEIS officials as part of
a formal contact group to exchange information and
views on how decarbonisation of the off-grid heating
sector can be best achieved.
The sessions have provided a valuable forum for
discussion but have also raised important questions over
how much carbon reduction is required of industry and
by when.
OFTEC and FPS have communicated the issue
directly to the minister of state for energy and clean
growth and asked for urgent clarity, along with clear and
equitable objectives for industry to work towards.
In the letter to Claire Perry MP, the trade
associations also raised the point that by only focusing
on oil and coal as ‘high carbon’ fossil fuels, government
is greatly limiting the carbon reduction gains which
could be achieved if a less narrow definition were
applied.
“In terms of carbon emissions per kWh oil is only
slighter higher than LPG as it produces 0.298 kg of CO2
whilst LPG is 0.241 and natural gas 0.216, but all are
fossil fuels and should be treated as such,” explained
FPS CEO Guy Pulham.
“Oil heating contributes less than 2% of UK
emissions so it seems perverse to single out this
relatively small sector when there is so much more that
needs to be achieved across the wider carbon reduction
agenda.
“Industry has already made considerable strides
in exploring alternative liquid fuel solutions for off-grid
heating, but before we can move any further forward,
we need the goalposts to be clearly defined,” added
OFTEC CEO, Paul Rose.
“We are currently missing vital information on
timeframes and the exact levels of carbon reduction
required by government. This is limiting our ability to
assess the potential of various options and could delay
progress if not quickly resolved.”
Seeing a future in oil off-grid –
Viessmann has introduced its
Vitorondens oil-fired boiler into the
UK. The company sees the boiler
suiting off-grid customers with
older and less well-insulated homes
which require a high temperature
heating system, where renewable
options are not always ideal
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8 Fuel Oil News | October 2018