The renewable liquid gas heating business is prepared and ready to ship a nationwide rollout of its low carbon answer for off-grid properties, as soon as the coverage mechanisms are put in place by the brand new authorities after the election.
That was the message from OFTEC’s annual convention, held in Tewkesbury on 5 June 2024 within the midst of the election marketing campaign, which noticed delegates from throughout the liquid gas heating business collect to debate the subsequent steps for decarbonising the off-grid sector.
OFTEC Chairman Martin Cooke opened the convention, recognising how the business has labored collectively to efficiently show the viability of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a sensible and reasonably priced low carbon answer for off-grid properties and companies.
The primary speaker on the occasion was Paul Rose, OFTEC CEO, who highlighted that each one the technical and logistical elements to a rollout of HVO had been demonstrated and the one remaining barrier was coverage assist from the federal government.
He reiterated the continued ambition to supply the gas to each oil heated dwelling within the UK and the present analysis and consideration into whether or not a kerosene/HVO mix may very well be rolled out as an preliminary stepping stone to hurry up widespread adoption.
Ken Cronin, CEO of UKIDA, then spoke in regards to the availability of HVO and the interlinked authorities coverage on kerosene based mostly gas for the aviation sector.
He additionally outlined UKIFDA and OFTEC’s continued engagement forward of the election the place the commerce associations are calling for a dedication from the subsequent authorities to publish the RLHFO session as a precedence as soon as in workplace.
Malcolm Farrow, head of public affairs at OFTEC, shared the findings from a latest survey of oil heated households the place 85% of respondents mentioned the federal government and opposition occasion insurance policies on decarbonisation will affect how they solid their vote on the poll field.
Concluding the convention, John Weedon, from gas distributors Mitchell & Webber, offered an perception into the village of Kehelland in Cornwall the place dozens of properties have been utilizing HVO for the previous two years.
Paul Rose, OFTEC CEO, commented: “Our business is exclusive as we not solely have a tried and examined technological answer, however we even have the infrastructure in place and an present expert workforce to ship it at scale and at velocity. All we’d like is the subsequent authorities to present us the inexperienced gentle.
“We’re seeing big enthusiasm from customers who need to play their half in tackling emissions by transitioning to a renewable liquid gas. The federal government has been kicking the can down the highway. That’s why we proceed to discover choices, together with an preliminary kerosene/HVO mix, so we will rollout this gas even faster to extra properties.”
IMAGE: UKIFDA CEO Ken Cronin and OFTEC CEO Paul Rose