With COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, hitting the headlines at the moment, we thought that now was the ideal time to take a look at what the future will hold for off-grid homes. Let’s start with something you probably already know! The UK is aiming to hit net zero by 2050 in order to reduce climate change. One of the ways the UK government is proposing to achieve this is by having all off-grid homes heated by eco-friendly alternatives to heating oil and LPG, currently being used by many households throughout the country.
But what you may not know is that the government has moved its initial proposed date to phase out off-grid fossil fuel boilers from 2026 to 2035. Which is good news for everyone with off-grid homes using heating oil or LPG as it means more time to consider the options. Plus, the new proposals are for an 80% phase-out rather than a 100% one with the Government saying they will never make anyone get rid of their existing boiler if they cannot afford to switch to a heat pump.
What’s the current option?
At the moment, heat pumps are being championed by the Government as the alternative option to traditional domestic heating oil and LPG boilers in off-grid homes. Though it has been stated that they will only be used in homes where it is ‘reasonably practicable’ to install these systems. The exact details of what qualifies as ‘reasonably practicable’ has still not been established. So, you won’t know if that means your home or not until the details have been officially defined.
Heat pumps themselves work by extracting heat from the air, ground, or water and transferring it to your home, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere without relying on fossil fuels. They’re known for their energy efficiency, using significantly less electricity than traditional boilers.
But that doesn’t mean everyone is cheering their arrival. In fact, there is significant opposition to heat pumps being the only alternative for off-grid homes for a number of reasons. The first is cost. According to Future Ready Fuel, it will cost on average £20,500 to install one and make an oil-heated home ready for it. This high cost is due not just to the replacement of the old central heating oil or LPG boiler, but the additional work needed which can include the fitting of new larger radiators, underfloor heating, improved insulation and electrical work.
From an environmental point of view, electric heating appliances like heat pumps are only low-carbon if the electricity used to run them is generated from low-carbon sources. At the moment, other green heating options create less carbon.
There are also practicalities to consider. Like the lack of skilled and qualified heat pump installers. It is estimated that there are currently around 10,000 to 15,000 installers. But if targets are to be met, the UK will need over 50,000 by 2030.
Say hello to HVO
The government may be currently only looking at heat pumps for off-grid homes. But don’t despair. There are other options on the horizon that will allow off-grid households to use 100% renewable energy, while reducing CO2 by up to 90% compared to fossil fuels. All without any expensive retrofit or installation. We, like others, are optimistic that with campaigning by the likes of UKIFDA, the trade association for the liquid fuels distribution industry, these alternatives will become Government approved options for those who won’t or can’t install a heat pump.
The first is HVO, which stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. This is a greener alternative to traditional heating oil. What makes it so attractive is the fact that it will work in your current boiler with just a quick and simple low-cost conversion. It then works in exactly the same way. You won’t notice the difference.
At the moment, HVO is more expensive than normal home heating oil. But, as demand rises and more manufacturing facilities are built, prices will drop, making it an affordable option.
A large-scale renewable liquid fuel demonstration project started in 2020 to assess if HVO really was as good as it’s cracked up to be. It began in November that year with a bungalow in the village of Scorrier, Cornwall, becoming the first home in the UK to be converted from heating oil to HVO. Later, at the end of the year, 19 more homes were converted across the UK. It took less than an hour to do each conversion. In October 2021, the second phase saw further homes around the UK being converted so that the heating oil industry could test the logistics of transitioning to renewable fuels. So far, everything is going well with 15 fuel distributors involved. The number of houses using HVO has continued to rise as well as other properties such as a churches, schools and the buildings used for COP26. As thought, there have been no technical issues.
It's hoped that this project will help convince the Government that HVO is a viable option in its aim to reach Net Zero. Rest assured as soon as HVO becomes not just an environmentally-friendly alternative, but also a cost-friendly one, we’ll be offering it to all our heating oil customers.
What about LPG users?
Don’t worry if you’re currently using LPG. There are greener options coming soon.
BioLPG (also known as Biopropane) and rDMW (renewable dimethyl ether) are two renewable gas options. Like HVO, they’ll work in your existing boiler, reducing carbon emissions by up to 90% without reducing the performance of your home’s heating system.
Both are what’s called ‘drop-in’ solutions which means you can use them in your existing boiler straight away. No additional retrofitting or replacement costs needed.
BioLPG is totally renewable and is made from a mix of biological feedstocks and processes. rDMW is made from renewable feedstock, such as methane from agricultural and municipal waste, as well as renewable power and CO2. rDMW is seen as a complementary fuel to BioLPG as it can be blended with it (and traditional LPG) as well as used in its pure form.
So, what does all this mean for you? Put simply, the future of heating for off-grid homes looks bright. With a focus on reducing carbon emissions, a range of viable green heating options on the horizon and new technologies emerging all the time, we're getting closer every day to a world where everyone can have affordable, sustainable heating.