Momentum builds as OFTEC’s 2026 conference focuses on a fair off-grid transition

OFTEC has announced its 2026 association members conference agenda which will see industry leaders from across the heating sector meet, calling on the government to set out full policy support for renewable liquid fuels for the UK’s 1.7 million oil heated homes.

The conference, taking place on 3rd June in Tewkesbury, comes at a pivotal time for off-grid decarbonisation. While the government has been focussed on electrification, the industry is feeling increasingly positive as support for a technology neutral approach, which includes renewable liquid fuels, continues to grow.

OFTEC will host a members’ dinner the evening before for guests, with the conference taking place the following day. This year the focus is on ensuring off-grid homes and businesses have practical and affordable low carbon heating solutions, as part of the government’s net zero drive.

Clear mandate

A key theme of this year’s conference is the clear mandate from consumers. During the government’s recent Alternative Clean Heating consultation, over 16,000 responses were received from oil heated households and technicians supporting the use of renewable liquid fuels. This level of response underscores the public mood for solutions that enable them to reduce emissions, without the high costs and disruption associated with other technologies.

The industry will also address the recent changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which saw the grant for oil heated homes increase from £7,500 to £9,000. This has been seen as a significant, public acknowledgement from the government that oil heated homes are often harder and more expensive to transition to heat pumps, requiring a more bespoke approach.

The conference comes amid a more challenging economic climate for off-grid households, with rising food and energy prices, and a need for net zero policy to focus on more affordable solutions.

Despite recent volatility in kerosene prices, HVO has not seen the same level of price disruption. OFTEC’s proposal is to deliver a blended approach of kerosene and HVO, which doesn’t require any boiler modifications. This would also eliminate the upfront costs associated with installing a heat pump.

Mixed messaging

OFTEC argues the current mixed messaging from the government is leaving many households stuck between the high costs of installing heat pumps, and a lack of policy support for renewable liquid fuels.

It is of particular concern that, under current Building Regulations, once a household switches to a heat pump, they cannot easily roll back to an oil boiler.

The speaker programme for the conference includes:

• Paul Rose, CEO of OFTEC, focusing on changes at OFTEC to ensure the registration scheme remains relevant in a changing industry.
• Malcolm Farrow, Director of Marketing and External Affairs at OFTEC, will discuss the current policy context and engagement with policymakers in GB.
• The Future Ready Fuel team will provide an in depth look at their recent campaign, which successfully mobilised 16,000 oil households to voice their support for renewable fuels.
• Philip Hannon, Director of The Alliance for Zero Carbon Heating, will discuss decarbonisation developments in the Republic of Ireland.
• Mark Williams, Head of Training at City Training Cardiff, will outline technician skills required for the energy transition and how policy aspirations result in practical delivery.

A fair and affordable pathway

Ahead of the conference, OFTEC CEO Paul Rose said: “We are beginning to see a real shift in the conversation. The government is slowly recognising publicly the unique challenges faced by off-grid communities with the existing electrification approach. What we need to see now is that recognition turning into formal policy support for renewable liquid fuels.

“At our conference we also want to make clear that oil heated households must remain at the heart of this debate. Decisions over how they decarbonise should not be made in isolation in the halls of Westminster. The 16,000 responses to the recent government consultation have sent a powerful message. People want a fair and affordable path to net zero, and we continue to urge the government to listen.

“We look forward to welcoming the industry to Tewkesbury to discuss how we build on this momentum and secure a low carbon future that works centred on fairness.”

_{Image provided by OFTEC.}