OFTEC IRELAND NEWS
L-R: David Blevings (OFTEC) and Mark Eccles (Grant Engineering) overseeing the conversion to HVO.
The property outside Millisle.
footprint using kerosene and 100% grid electricity. We will be monitoring the property over the next 12 months and confirm the findings at the end of the year”. In terms of CO 2 emissions, an HVO-fired boiler can deliver the most rapid and significant reductions and requires the least behavioural change by customers. While there are challenges around cost and supply at scale, it is clear that HVO could be an effective decarbonisation solution for energy-efficient, liquid- fuelled homes in the future. Government support for HVO as a low-carbon heating solution could make it a relatively straightforward and cost-effective option for decarbonising liquid-fuelled homes today. “In terms of CO 2 emissions, an HVO-fired boiler can deliver the most rapid and significant reductions and requires the least behavioural change by customers.”
ready condensing boiler was already in place and air permeability is 6.7 m³/h.m², which is average. The EPC on completion was B86, which is very good but that was before the fuel change and the addition of solar. HOW ‘CARBON-FRIENDLY’ IS THIS HOUSE? We have modelled the emissions on kerosene and grid electricity, and, for this exercise, we have assumed a space heating demand of 9,000 kWh, hot water demand of 3,000 kWh and a further 6,000 kWh of general electric use. This provides a projected annual carbon emission total of approximately 6.3 tonnes. This is made up of 4.5 tonnes for space heating, 1.125 tonnes for hot water and 1.80 tonnes from the grid. By using HVO in the model for space heating, it is possible to reduce the carbon emissions to 0.48 tonnes per annum. With the hot water being provided by the solar-assisted heat pump, the emissions are reduced to around 0.18 tonnes. For general electrical requirements and utilising the 4.5 kW solar PV generation and an assumed load factor of 0.1, we can assume
approximately 4,000 kWh from solar energy over the year, leaving a 2,000 kWH requirement from the grid. This results in about 0.6 tonnes of CO 2 from general electric use. Utilising HVO and solar energy, we are estimating a total carbon emission of approximately 1.14 tonnes: that is a reduction of over 5 tonnes of CO 2 or an 88% reduction in the overall carbon footprint! The revised EPC (incorporating the fuel change and solar energy) moves from a B85 rating to an A96 one, which is extremely high. The average energy rating in Northern Ireland is D60 for reference. OFTEC oversaw the boiler conversion, and the project is being monitored by Dr Patrick Keatley of NEMO Energy Limited. Looking at the figures, he commented, “With HVO emitting 0.036 kgCO 2 /kWh compared to kerosene at 0.298 kgCO 2 /kWh, we can achieve a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint immediately. Adding in the benefits of the solar-assisted heat pump for hot water, along with battery storage, we can estimate a decrease in carbon emissions to 1.14 tonnes, which is almost 90% lower than the original
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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