As the UK marks its first ever ‘Green GB Week’ (15-19 Oct), OFTEC has received further evidence that its work to develop a low carbon liquid fuel to replace kerosene could provide the answer to reducing carbon emissions.
Earlier this year, OFTEC commissioned a series of independent reports into the viability of liquid biofuels to meet the future needs of the 2.2 million homes across the UK and Republic of Ireland which currently rely on oil. The initial findings offer positive reading.
The reports outline the growing demand for biofuels from the UK and EU and the willingness of major suppliers to meet this, as well as their interest in new markets such as domestic heating.
Biodiesel from waste blends, primarily Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) and Tallow Methyl Ester (TME), would provide the most likely solution in the short term, moving to blends from other waste streams in the medium to longer term.
The reports recognise current concerns over sustainability of supply but suggest that this will be addressed as the biofuel market develops further and demand grows, technologies advance and other sources of raw material become more readily available.
Speaking during Green GB Week, OFTEC CEO Paul Rose said: “Over the past 12 months since government launched its Clean Growth Strategy, OFTEC has made significant strides towards its ultimate goal of delivering a realistic, affordable solution that meets the challenge of decarbonising heat from off grid households. We firmly believe the answer lies in biofuels and these latest reports add further credence to our thinking.
“Rather than expecting oil heated households to replace their heating system with a different technology such as a heat pump, switching to a low carbon biofuel which would be a much less expensive option for the majority. A liquid biofuel would offer these households an almost drop-in replacement for kerosene.”