Mitchell & Webber, a Cornish oil supplier, is calling on the government to support an industry-funded national project to demonstrate that hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) is a swift, cost-effective and sustainable alternative to oil, UKIFDA reported on 1 July 20221. The company says it is the first in the country to begin trialling the renewable fossil-free fuel for heating, and that its team has converted over 50 oil-fired appliances to HVO since 2020, many of them in Kehelland, a small village in west Cornwall1.
The converted properties include domestic homes, businesses, schools and the local church1. Mitchell & Webber estimates that each home saves an average of around five metric tonnes of CO2 per home each year, and that if all of the estimated 40,000 oil-fired properties in Cornwall made the switch it would be a significant help towards Cornwall Council's target of bringing the county to net-zero by 20301. The UK government's legally binding target is net-zero by 20501.
According to UKIFDA, HVO is made from certified waste fats and oils, does not contribute to deforestation, and has been confirmed as sustainable by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification1. The report states that a simple, quick and cheap conversion to existing oil-fired boilers and systems means millions of homes could reduce their net greenhouse gas CO2 emissions by 90% in comparison to oil1. The national demonstration is being supported by the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) and UKIFDA as part of the Future Ready Fuel campaign1.
John Weedon, a director at Mitchell & Webber, said the potential impact nationally is enormous1:
"We want customers to be able to keep their homes warm in the future, and we feel that placing the financial burden onto the consumer is unfair and unnecessary when the success of our trials over the last two years indicates that HVO has huge advantages over other heating systems for a wide range of properties."
The report cites the government's Future Homes Standard, which requires that no new-build homes will use gas boilers from 2025, and the Heat and Buildings Strategy, published late last year, which contains a proposal that will prevent homes currently using oil-fired systems from replacing them with fossil-fuel solutions from as early as 20261. The UK government is currently consulting on a range of policies and proposals that aim to bring the country to net-zero carbon emissions1.
Why it matters for households
For the estimated 1.7 million homes in the UK using oil-fired heating systems, the combination of uncertainty over oil supplies and the government's plans to phase out many fossil-fuel powered heating systems within the next decade means pressure to find alternative fuel sources1. Many homes in Cornwall do not have access to the gas grid, so oil-fired systems are common there, and those homes need an accessible alternative as new regulations come into place1. Mitchell & Webber argues that rural properties often present particular challenges when owners look to move to other renewable heating systems, including the cost and disruption of re-insulating to the standard needed to make other solutions viable1. The company says its trials indicate HVO has advantages over other heating systems for a wide range of properties1.
What happens next
The government consultation on policies and proposals aimed at net-zero is ongoing1. The Heat and Buildings Strategy proposal that would prevent homes currently using oil-fired systems from replacing them with fossil-fuel solutions could take effect from as early as 20261. The Future Homes Standard requirement that no new-build homes use gas boilers applies from 20251. UKIFDA also announced on 1 July 2022 that it had appointed Ken Mackness as Chief Executive Officer1.