Following field trials of new liquid heating fuels, it has been estimated that 1.25 million tonnes of CO2 could be saved every year if existing oil users were incentivised to make the switch.
In support of this, the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) has been successful in its campaign back in February 2010 for the new bio-fuel to be included in the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) due to be introduced in April 2011.
Jeremy Hawksley, OFTEC director general said, “Due to its versatility and relatively low cost and ease of conversion compared to other renewable alternatives, there is the opportunity to make a significant environmental impact by switching oil users in rural and semi rural locations to the new liquid bio-fuel. It is also vital that the scheme covers new as well as existing buildings. We understand that the new Government will enact the RHI as proposed.”
OFTEC hopes to encourage a large percentage of the UK’s 1.4 million oil users to sign up to the RHI scheme, as many of the homes currently heated by oil will be able to switch to bio-fuel with relatively low effort and cost.
Hawksley adds: “Almost half of the UK’s CO2 emissions come from buildings and by opening up the incentive scheme to new builds, converted properties and by making it more accessible and affordable for oil users, the RHI has the potential to significantly lower Britain’s carbon footprint.”
Three liquid bio-fuels have been successfully field trialled in Norfolk as part of a joint venture between OFTEC, ICOM Energy Association and the University of East Anglia. Two of these are blends of kerosene with Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) content at 30% and at 50% FAME (B30K and B50K). One is a blend of diesel (gas-oil) with a FAME content of 30% (B30D). The specification for these fuels will be published in late 2010.