Trade associations OFTEC and UKIFDA have written to the Prime Minister to outline growing concerns the government is planning to cut VAT on gas and electricity bills in the upcoming Budget but could once again overlook rural homes on oil heating.
Labour MPs have written to the new Minister for Energy Consumers, Martin McCluskey MP, at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero calling for the government to support a renewable liquid fuel solution for oil heated homes in its upcoming Warm Homes Plan.
If the 1.7m oil heated homes in the UK each claimed the existing £7,500 government subsidy to switch to a heat pump, the total cost to the taxpayer could be billions of pounds. To achieve net zero, Labour’s current policy proposals are for the vast majority of oil heated homes to transition to a heat pump. To support with the upfront cost, a £7,500 grant is available from the government for eligible households through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
In the heart of Cornwall, the village of Kehelland is at the forefront of a project to demonstrate why the renewable liquid fuel Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is the ideal solution to decarbonising homes on oil heating.
A groundbreaking demonstration project saw dozens of residents and community buildings switch their home heating from kerosene to HVO, a low carbon alternative which drastically cuts emissions and only requires a minor modification to the boiler. The project not only enabled local residents to play their part in decarbonising, but also provided real word evidence of the effectiveness and practicality of HVO for domestic use.
We’re urging MPs in rural areas to support more affordable, low carbon heating options for the UK’s 1.7 million oil-heated homes. With Labour focused on heat pumps, many rural households risk facing costs of over £20,000 to adapt. Instead, we’re backing renewable liquid fuels like HVO, which cut emissions by up to 90% and work with existing systems, offering a practical, lower-cost alternative.
In a quiet corner of rural Essex, 75-year-old Sue Bright is doing her best to contribute to a greener future but like many off-grid residents, she’s facing barriers. With her home unsuited to a heat pump and her oil boiler still in good working order, Sue is calling on the government to support alternative low-carbon heating fuels like HVO.
Malcolm Magee, a retiree living in rural Suffolk, wanted to do his part for the planet by transitioning from oil heating to a more sustainable solution. But his bungalow – like many off-grid homes – isn’t suitable for a heat pump, the government’s preferred route to decarbonisation. With renewable liquid fuels such as HVO offering a viable alternative, Malcolm and thousands like him remain stuck in limbo as Westminster delays decisive action.
The government is being urged to set out a clear road map for decarbonising rural households in its upcoming Warm Homes Plan, as a new survey of off-gas grid consumers reveals increasing concerns over the cost of transitioning to low carbon heating.
When we talk about switching properties off the gas grid to low carbon heating technologies, the focus is often on homes. However, there are an estimated 268,000 what we call ‘non-domestic’ buildings in England alone which will also be affected. These aren’t just businesses, but include local community buildings from village halls, churches, shops and pubs.
OFTEC and UKIFDA have been analysing the last information dump and the findings show that many rural oil heated homes will need an alternative due to the cost and disruption of installation, and high running costs.
We believe renewable liquid fuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), must be part of the solution. Households should have a choice over whether they switch to a heat pump or HVO so they can adopt the best solution for their home and circumstances. If you want the choice of switching to a renewable liquid fuel, here are five key facts you should know to help spread the message.
Hundreds of rural households and heating technicians have written to their local MP calling on the Labour government to keep a commitment made to explore the use of renewable liquid fuels for home heating as an alternative to kerosene.
It’s been a successful two years for the Future Ready Fuel campaign and we’ve made significant progress in our ambition to secure a renewable liquid fuel solution for oil heated homes.
Political party policies on transitioning off-grid homes onto low carbon heating will impact how rural households vote at the general election, results from a new survey reveal.
Following the announcement of a General Election on 4 July 2024, Paul Rose, CEO of OFTEC, and Ken Cronin, CEO of UKIFDA, have released a statement.