The government is yet to reply to the Alternative Clean Heating consultation which closed in February and attracted 16,000 responses.
The government is yet to reply to the Alternative Clean Heating consultation which closed in February and attracted 16,000 responses.
Oil heating technicians and fuel distributors are being urged to send a letter to the new Burnham government, calling on his team to keep the promise of offering more practical low carbon heating solutions for off-grid homes.
The previous Starmer administration launched the Alternative Clean Heating consultation which sought views from industry and consumers about how off-grid homes should be heated. Around 16,000 oil heated households and technicians responded, supporting the use of renewable liquid fuels. However, they have yet to have a reply.
The new Burnham government is being called on to publish a response to the consultation and outline how they will ensure off-grid homes have low carbon heating solutions which are practical and affordable.
To date, government policy has been that most oil heated homes will be expected to install a heat pump. Those responding to the consultation pointed out the challenge this presents to many rural households.
Even with the new £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for oil heated homes, the upfront cost is significant – the consultation indicated the average cost for homes to switch to a heat pump is around £16,900. This leaves many homes with an unaffordable financial shortfall.
Industry campaigners suggest highlight an alternative in renewable liquid fuel such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The fuel can be used as a blend straight away in the existing boiler and tank with no upfront costs. Households could then continue to use their regular local fuel supplier and technicians.
The heating industry has already successfully run a trial using HVO in around 150 homes over five years. If just a 20% blend of HVO was introduced across the UK’s 1.7 million oil heated homes, the carbon saving would be equivalent to installing 347,372 heat pumps.
Addressing the lack of reply, the Future Ready Fuel campaign, supported by OFTEC, which represents manufacturers and training providers and runs a registration scheme for non-gas heating technicians, and UKIFDA, which represents fuel distributors, is urging oil heating technicians, fuel distributors and consumers to write to the new government to demand a response to the consultation.
Paul Rose, CEO of OFTEC, and Ken Cronin, CEO of UKIFDA, said: “The government asked the question and an incredible 16,000 people spoke up in support of renewable liquid fuels in the recent consultation. Yet, they are still waiting for an answer. The new Burnham government has a duty to not ignore these voices and must respond to the consultation, and then launch a technical consultation on the introduction of the new fuel. That’s why we urging people to write to his team.
“It’s become increasingly clear that pushing rural households toward heat pumps when the upfront costs, even with grants, are so high simply doesn’t add up. Households want to do the right thing, but they need practical options.
“Renewable liquid fuels have huge support as they work in the existing heating system without any upfront cost. As an industry, we are ready to deliver this transition. We now just need the government to play their part.”
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