Consultation closed - 10 February 2026
16,000 responses submitted
The submission deadline for the government’s Alternative Clean Heating consultation has now passed. We have been overwhelmed with the support for our campaign which has achieved over 16,000 submissions!
The government has published a new consultation called ‘Exploring the role of alternative clean heating solutions’. They are considering the types of heating systems rural households should use in the future. Responses to this consultation will help determine the final decision they make about your home. If you want the choice of switching to a renewable liquid fuel, submit your response.
You are responding to the government’s consultation
Complete the form below to send your consultation response
Please note, your name, email address, postcode and organisation will be included in the email alongside the consultation response.
I am writing as a household on oil heating to submit my response to the questions in the ‘Exploring the role of alternative clean heating solutions’ consultation.
Please see below my full details and my submission to the relevant questions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email.
1 – Do you agree that electric boilers should play a limited role in decarbonising heat, given their comparatively low efficiency and limited ability to load shift, leading to high running costs for consumers?
3 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role infrared heating could play in decarbonising heat?
6 – Do you agree that high temperature heat pumps could play a key role in decarbonising heating of buildings?
8 – Do you agree that air-to-air heat pumps could play a key role in decarbonising heating of buildings without wet central heating systems?
12 – Do you agree that networked heat pumps may have a key role to play for buildings with limited outdoor space for individual heat pumps per dwelling?
15 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role exhaust air heat pumps could play in decarbonising heat?
17 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role heat batteries could play in decarbonising heat?
20 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role storage heaters could play in decarbonising heat?
As someone living off the gas network with an oil boiler, many of the electric heating options in this consultation don’t look practical or affordable for my home. Even the consultation itself says heat pumps may not be the best solution for off‑grid properties, and when I look at the costs, I agree.
I know that the oil and boiler industry has already tested renewable liquid fuel blends. They cut carbon emissions and, if introduced, would let me keep my existing boiler, which is reliable and expected to last well beyond 15 years. With the right government support, the running costs would be similar to what I pay now.
For off-grid households like mine, renewable liquid fuels are the most sensible way forward. I’d like the Government to take this option seriously; and give it proper backing so ordinary homes can make the switch.
My preferred solution is renewable liquid heating fuels.
Please take this to be my answer for Questions 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 15, 17 and 20.
23 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role solid biomass boilers could play in decarbonising heat?
Solid biomass boilers are not a realistic option for me. The consultation says they can cost up to £26,200, which is far more than my current oil boiler. Unless I spend even more on an automatic fuelling system, I’d have to manually tip wood pellets into the boiler. That’s not something I want to do, especially in winter, and it seems like a step back in convenience.
The oil and boiler industry has already tested renewable liquid fuel blends. They reduce carbon emissions while letting me keep my existing boiler, which is efficient and expected to last well beyond 15 years. This avoids big upfront costs and disruption. With government support, the running costs would be similar to what I pay now.
For off-gas grid households like mine, renewable liquid fuels are the best solution. I’d like the Government to include them properly in the consultation, with clear costings and support.
My preferred solution is renewable liquid heating fuels.
27 – Do you have any evidence or views on the potential of renewable liquid fuels to be used in buildings where other low carbon solutions may not be the best solution?
28 – Do you have any evidence or views on the practical implications that may arise if some off-grid consumers start using renewable liquid heating fuels?
32 – Do you have any evidence or views that could help inform future decisions on whether to implement a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation, and if so, how?
The consultation recognises that heat pumps may not suit off-grid properties, and when I look at the costs to install and run them, I agree. By contrast, oil-heated homes like mine could use renewable liquid fuel blends without any change. That makes them far more practical and affordable.
I strongly support renewable liquid heating fuels because I can use them in my current boiler with no major upfront cost or disruption. It’s simply a matter of changing the fuel.
This approach is already proposed in Ireland and is the same as the UK transport system, where fuel suppliers are obliged to provide renewable fuels. The same principle should apply to heating.
At the moment, heating oil is taxed through VAT, but renewable fuels would also face excise duty. That’s double taxation and unfair. If the Government wants households to switch, it should remove this barrier and ensure renewable fuels are taxed equally.
Renewable liquid fuels could be rolled out quickly. The legislation is already in place, the industry has answered technical questions, and a long-running trial proves they work. With fair tax treatment, this solution could be delivered nationwide at an affordable cost, with running costs staying within the normal range for heating oil.
This is a clear win-win solution for off-grid households to get a practical, affordable way to cut carbon without disruption, and for the Government to get a proven pathway to decarbonisation that can be implemented now.
Please take this to be my answer for Questions 27, 28 and 32.
36 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role other low carbon heating systems, not discussed in this consultation, could play in decarbonising heat?
This consultation doesn’t offer much choice. Except for renewable liquid fuels, it’s either one very costly system or another. Almost none of the questions look at what households can afford. Instead, it focuses on what could be technically installed. I’d like to see more focus on affordability and on what can be done now with the systems people already have.
The Government must think carefully about the financial burden it is putting on households like mine. The cost to install and run a new heating system, the disruption involved, and the need for extra energy efficiency improvements all matter. Solutions will only be attractive if they are affordable, cost-effective and convenient. For most off‑grid homes, the costs linked to electric systems and biomass boilers are simply too high.
I believe I can contribute to decarbonisation by changing the fuel my boiler uses, starting with renewable liquid fuel blends that have already been tested. This option could be rolled out now, with no major upfront cost or disruption for me as a customer and no extra burden on taxpayers.
Complete the form below to send your consultation response
Please note, your name, email address, postcode and organisation will be included in the email alongside the consultation response.
I am writing as a business working in the liquid fuel sector serving oil heated households to submit my response to the questions in the ‘Exploring the role of alternative clean heating solutions’ consultation.
Please see below my full details and my submission to the relevant questions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email.
1 – Do you agree that electric boilers should play a limited role in decarbonising heat, given their comparatively low efficiency and limited ability to load shift, leading to high running costs for consumers?
3 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role infrared heating could play in decarbonising heat?
6 – Do you agree that high temperature heat pumps could play a key role in decarbonising heating of buildings?
8 – Do you agree that air-to-air heat pumps could play a key role in decarbonising heating of buildings without wet central heating systems?
12 – Do you agree that networked heat pumps may have a key role to play for buildings with limited outdoor space for individual heat pumps per dwelling?
15 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role exhaust air heat pumps could play in decarbonising heat?
17 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role heat batteries could play in decarbonising heat?
20 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role storage heaters could play in decarbonising heat?
Many of my customers live off the gas network with an oil boiler, and the electric heating options in this consultation don’t look practical or affordable for their homes. Even the consultation itself says heat pumps may not be the best solution for off‑grid properties, and when I look at the costs, I agree.
I know that the oil and boiler industry has already tested renewable liquid fuel blends. They cut carbon emissions and, if introduced, would enable my customers to keep their existing boilers, which are reliable and have a typical lifespan well beyond 15 years. With the right government support, the running costs would be similar to what they pay now.
For off-grid households, renewable liquid fuels are the most sensible way forward. I’d like the Government to take this option seriously; and give it proper backing so ordinary homes can make the switch.
My preferred solution is renewable liquid heating fuels.
Please take this to be my answer for Questions 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 15, 17 and 20.
23 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role solid biomass boilers could play in decarbonising heat?
My Response
Solid biomass boilers are not a realistic option for my off-gas grid customers. The consultation says they can cost up to £26,200, which is far more than their current oil boiler. Unless they spend even more on an automatic fuelling system, they would have to manually tip wood pellets into the boiler. That’s not something most people will want to do, especially in winter, and it seems like a step back in convenience.
The oil and boiler industry has already tested renewable liquid fuel blends. They reduce carbon emissions while letting my customers keep their existing oil boilers, which are efficient and have an expected life span well beyond 15 years. This avoids big upfront costs and disruption. With government support, the running costs would be similar to what they pay now.
For off-gas grid households that use oil heating, renewable liquid fuels are the best solution. I’d like the Government to include them properly in the consultation, with clear costings and support.
My preferred solution is renewable liquid heating fuels.
27 – Do you have any evidence or views on the potential of renewable liquid fuels to be used in buildings where other low carbon solutions may not be the best solution?
28 – Do you have any evidence or views on the practical implications that may arise if some off-grid consumers start using renewable liquid heating fuels?
32 – Do you have any evidence or views that could help inform future decisions on whether to implement a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation, and if so, how?
My Response
The consultation recognises that heat pumps may not suit off-grid properties, and when I look at the costs to install and run them, I agree. By contrast, the oil-heated homes my business serves could use renewable liquid fuel blends without any change. That makes them far more practical and affordable.
I strongly support renewable liquid heating fuels because my customers can use them in their current boiler with no major upfront cost or disruption. It’s simply a matter of changing the fuel.
This approach is already proposed in Ireland and is the same as the UK transport system, where fuel suppliers are obliged to provide renewable fuels. The same principle should apply to heating.
At the moment, heating oil is taxed through VAT, but renewable fuels would also face excise duty. That’s double taxation and unfair. If the Government wants households to switch, it should remove this barrier and ensure renewable fuels are taxed equally.
Renewable liquid fuels could be rolled out quickly. The legislation is already in place, the industry has answered technical questions, and a long-running trial proves they work. With fair tax treatment, this solution could be delivered nationwide at an affordable cost, with running costs staying within the normal range for heating oil.
This is a clear win-win solution for off-grid households that use oil heating to get a practical, affordable way to cut carbon without disruption, and for the Government to get a proven pathway to decarbonisation that can be implemented now.
Please take this to be my answer for Questions 27, 28 and 32.
36 – Do you have any evidence or views on the role other low carbon heating systems, not discussed in this consultation, could play in decarbonising heat?
My Response
This consultation doesn’t offer much choice. Except for renewable liquid fuels, it’s either one very costly system or another. Almost none of the questions look at what households can afford. Instead, it focuses on what could be technically installed. I’d like to see more focus on affordability and on what can be done now with the systems people already have.
The Government must think carefully about the financial burden it is putting on households. The cost to install and run a new heating system, the disruption involved, and the need for extra energy efficiency improvements all matter. Solutions will only be attractive if they are affordable, cost-effective and convenient. For most off‑grid homes that currently use oil heating, the costs linked to electric systems and biomass boilers are simply too high.
I believe my customers can contribute to decarbonisation by changing the fuel their boilers use, starting with renewable liquid fuel blends that have already been tested. This option could be rolled out now, with no major upfront cost or disruption for oil heating users and no extra burden on taxpayers.