In Scotland, we met again with the Energy Minister and engaged with several officials and MSPs from various parties alongside Highland Fuels. In Wales, we presented at the Powys District Council in collaboration with Oil4Wales.
In England, we participated in a roundtable discussion with rural Labour MPs in Parliament. Additionally, we attended a meeting in the House of Lords, supported by Mitchell & Webber, along with Lord Berkeley (Labour) and Lord Bruce (Liberal Democrats). The purpose of this meeting was to provide an update to the Energy Minister, Lord Hunt, and officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
In Ireland, we met with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) at Grant Engineering. In Northern Ireland, we held discussions with officials from the Department for the Economy, hosted by Warmflow.
A pragmatic route to progress
I would like to thank all UKIFDA members who have been involved this year. Their contributions are crucial, and the more people involved, the better. This year’s primary objective is to make significant progress toward decarbonising the fuel we deliver to our customers and to solidify the need for legislative obligations in all the countries where we operate.
While it may not be an exaggeration to say that most politicians support providing alternative solutions to consumers, including a renewable fuel that is affordable and can be implemented and delivered quickly, departmental bodies across various governments often need more convincing – particularly regarding the availability of feedstock.
What is becoming increasingly clear is that some are searching for the perfect solution that decarbonises homes, eliminates the need to import energy or fuel, eradicates fuel poverty, and makes energy affordable again. As one peer remarked in a recent meeting, “Perfection is the Enemy of Progress,” borrowing from a quote by Winston Churchill. The reality is that, as of today, no single energy solution can meet all of those needs simultaneously. We need a mix of solutions.
In Ireland, the Programme for Government 2025, published in January following the general election late last year, reveals a more pragmatic approach to energy policy. I am not surprised that biofuels received significant attention for the first time, given that both major parties pledged support for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in their manifestos.
The programme states the Government’s ambition to “Consider the use of sustainable biofuels to reduce emissions from existing home boilers where deep retrofits are not possible in the short term” and aims to “improve traceability in HVO procurement to ensure that the product comes from sustainable sources.” This marks a significant step forward. UKIFDA, through the Alliance for Zero Carbon Heating (TAZCH), is committed to working hard to translate this statement into action.
In January, UKIFDA, OFTEC and Fuels for Ireland met with SEAI at Grant Engineering in Birr to discuss how sustainable biofuels can help meet residential heating targets in Ireland. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates under government direction, making it too early to speculate on the exact initiatives. However, the Programme for Government emphasises the necessity of HVO and other biofuels.
SEAI must report to the EU by the end of the year regarding the targets set, and we made it clear that biofuels can play a critical role in quickly achieving those targets.
Notably, we highlighted that we could convert all oil-heated homes in Ireland to a 20% biofuel blend within six months of legislation approval, a transition that would equate to installing 160,000 heat pumps compared to just 3,500 installed last year.
Recently, the Northern Ireland Executive released a consultation on the use of biofuels, stating, “Our research and engagement with representatives from the local heating fuel distribution and supply sectors, alongside industry analysts, informs us that Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and bioLPG are potentially the most likely sources of replacing fossil fuels for heating requirements that can’t currently be met by the gas grid, heat pumps or district heating networks.”
We are working closely with our partners at OFTEC to respond to this consultation, and the open-minded approach of the Executive is a positive development.
A pivotal year
2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year across UKIFDA’s five nations, and the first two months have underscored the importance of collaboration and preparedness. It is now a race to see which country will be the first to implement an obligation for biofuels in home heating.
We’re making progress, and it’s worth noting that chasing perfection can sometimes slow us down. Winston Churchill said, “The maxim, ‘Nothing prevails but perfection,’ may be spelled PARALYSIS.” It’s a good reminder to keep moving forward without getting stuck in pursuing an unattainable ideal.
Image supplied by UKIFDA
