OFTEC NEWS
OFTEC OUTLINED TO THE DFE ENERGY GROUP HOW THE LIQUID FUEL SECTOR PLANS TO DECARBONISE DOMESTIC HEATING DURING A TOUR OF MAJOR LOCAL EMPLOYER WARMFLOW… Presenting the case for biofuels to DfE
The Department for Economy (DfE) is engaged in progressing the energy strategy for Northern Ireland and, as part of that process, launched a Call for Evidence on the use of biofuels in the transition away from fossil fuels for heating. As part of the engagement process, OFTEC invited representatives from DfE Energy Group to a major local
believes that sustainable biofuels are the right choice. Johnnie Black from Warmflow said, “The key to the blended approach to decarbonisation is that government can work in partnership with the industry and raise the blend percentage as more sustainable biofuels come onto the market, hopefully through indigenous production.
very hopeful that the presentation and tour gave the Department confidence the industry is ready to deliver a blended pathway to decarbonising heat. In DfE’s recently published summary of energy actions in 2024 and plans for 2025, it states, ‘The department launched a Call for Evidence on 10th December 2024 to explore how biofuels such as HVO and BioLPG can play a crucial transitional role and provide sustainable heating alternatives in situations where low- carbon technologies like heat pumps and heat networks are not currently suitable or feasible. ‘DfE aims to use respondents’ submissions to help map out the complex challenge of heat decarbonisation and inform our approach moving forward, with a Departmental Response to be issued during Summer 2025.’ OFTEC reads this as a positive, and expects biofuels to play a key role in decarbonising homes in the new energy strategy. View the full DfE report at: https://www. economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/energy- strategy-action-plan-2025-and-action- plan-report-2024
employer, Warmflow, for a tour of the facility and presentation on how the liquid fuel sector plans to decarbonise domestic heating.
“A major advantage of using biofuels is that consumers do not have to make any adjustments to the appliance with a 20% blend, so the transition is seamless with no disruption or additional capital cost.” As part of the presentation, David Blevings from OFTEC said, “Our USP is that we can
“For most older and off-grid homes, OFTEC believes that sustainable biofuels are the right choice.”
The meeting was constructive and
informative, with officials viewing the switch of an operational boiler from running on 100% fossil fuel (kerosene) to a
deliver carbon savings equivalent to the deployment of c.80,000 heat pumps with a 20% blend and that is a very powerful statement, especially as it can be done in six months, without the need for consumer interaction and we have done it before in the transport sector.” The biofuels consultation closed on March 4, and the liquid fuel industry is
20% blend of HVO and kerosene. During the presentation, OFTEC
suggested that all forms of low- and no- carbon heating will be required if we stand a chance to deliver on the 2030 targets. It acknowledged that heat pumps have their place in a thermally-efficient house, but for most older and off-grid homes, OFTEC
David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager on T: +44 (0)28 9186 2916 Sean McBride, Ireland Representative on T: +44 (0)7540 502 304 (NI) or +353 (0)87 241 7041 (RoI) www.oftec.org
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