OFTEC Ireland Urges Government for Carbon Reduction

Heating Oil/Fuel, Infrastructure, Ireland, Opinions, Policy

August 1, 2019

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by Lydia Stevenson (Oil Fired Up) OFTEC Ireland, the body representing the liquid fuel heating industry in Ireland, is urging the Irish Government to take a more realistic approach to reduce carbon emissions where the home heating sector is concerned.

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A pivitol aspect of this action plan focuses on the Government promising to increase carbon tax from €20 to €80 per tonne by 2030. Unfortunately, OFTEC Ireland has indicated that this approach will certainly affect those with under-insulated homes and inefficient heating systems, forcing them further into fuel poverty.

The Governments newly proposed plan also recommends replacing fossil fuel boilers in existing homes with newer technologies as a mechanism to reduce carbon emissions. However, this would involve significant financial costs and inconvenience, and is an unrealistic approach according to OFTEC Ireland, given the easier route of burning biofuels. The organisation recommends decarbonising the fuel itself and promoting better use of controls as a more appropriate alternative.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager, commented, “Over 40% of Irish consumers have a liquid-fuelled boiler, many in rural and off-grid homes and the most practical and cost-effective way to reducing their carbon emissions is by decarbonising the fuel they use.

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Liquid fuelled boilers are being installed currently by leading manufacturers and will still be a viable option for the foreseeable future, adapted and ready for the next generation of bioliquid fuels.”

OFTEC Ireland has developed a vision and realistic pathway to replace the current kerosene fuel used in oil boilers with a sustainable supply of low carbon liquid fuel. Calculations show that if all 686,000 liquid-fuelled boilers move to a B30 biofuel (30% FAME/70% Kerosene mix) the carbon saving would be twice as much as Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency proposal to move 170,000 oil-fired homes to air source heat pump by 2030. READ MORE

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