OFTEC IRELAND NEWS
Photo by Julian Hochgesang
“OFTEC’s aim is to enable all existing oil heating users to convert to a 100% sustainable
fossil-free liquid fuel by 2035”
HVO is already available in Northern Ireland and global supply is increasing fast.
OFTEC Ireland Manager, David Blevings.
heat pumps to become a viable option. The consultation has challenged the oil industry in Northern Ireland to provide a credible pathway to net zero by 2050 involving biofuels. This work must provide robust and comprehensive information on current and future costs and supply. We are certainly up for the challenge. A change to biofuels utilising existing equipment is an easy, low cost and non-controversial option. OFTEC’s aim is to enable all existing oil heating users to convert to a 100% sustainable fossil- free liquid fuel by 2035, well ahead of governments’ 2050 decarbonisation targets. We will work together with the distribution sector to deliver a clear and concise plan outlining how biofuels can lead the way to reaching energy targets. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) offers a near drop-in replacement for heating
oil at a fraction of the cost of installing an air source heat pump and an immediate reduction of around 88% in carbon emissions. HVO is already available in Northern Ireland and global supply is increasing fast. With the right policy support, UK industry could scale up domestic production and deployment to meet the heating requirements of rural homes well within the net zero timeframes. We’re already seeing some refineries move away from fossil fuels in favour of creating new renewable fuels. We know the lifespan of fossil fuels is limited but in the short to medium term consumers should not be put off investing in new heating systems which run on liquid fuels as fossil fuels will still be in the marketplace for a number of years and the majority of appliances sold today are already biofuel compatible. In the longer term we see HVO playing
an important role in helping Northern Ireland meet its net zero commitments. Hitting that target will be a mammoth task which will involve all departments of government and all sectors of society pulling together, but the liquid fuel industry is ready to play its part. We think it’s an exciting time and predict hugely interesting developments over the next 10-15 years. HVO is only the start and we can envisage home heating liquid fuels being derived from other waste materials such as used tyres and plastics as technology moves forward to address the needs of a low carbon society. Local industry will engage and help deliver solutions here in Northern Ireland which could well be different from the rest of Europe but will meet Governments’ requirement for a speedy reduction in the use of fossil fuels. For more information, visit www.oftec.org
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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