The consultation closed on 10 February, with the volume of submissions being regarded as an important milestone for rural communities across the UK in their fight for greater choice in pathways to low-carbon domestic heating.
Throughout the consultation period, UKIFDA worked closely with member distributors to encourage households to engage with the process and ensure their views were represented. This coordinated industry effort has resulted in one of the strongest public responses ever seen on the future of off-grid home heating, highlighting the importance of ensuring that the needs and realities of rural homes are fully reflected in future policy decisions.
One of the most inspiring moments of the campaign came from a group of oil heated households in Kehelland, Cornwall. Setting off in the middle of the night, these residents travelled all the way to Westminster to hand in their consultation responses in person.
Submissions have come from oil-heated households and those in the industry in every corner of the UK. With responses from Cornwall and Wales, the East of England, Northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the widespread call for more practical and affordable low carbon heating solutions is clear.
A clear message
The scale of participation sends a clear message that rural households want practical, affordable, low-carbon heating choices, including the option to use renewable liquid fuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), as a straightforward route to decarbonisation without the high upfront costs or disruption associated with other technologies.
Ken Cronin, CEO of UKIFDA, commented: “Rural households have made their position unmistakably clear. They want clean heating solutions that are practical, affordable and achievable for the types of homes they live in, and renewable liquid fuels offer exactly that. This level of engagement shows just how important it is that government policy reflects the real-world needs of off-grid communities.”
The Government’s consultation can be viewed here.
What happens now?
While the official line from the government is that they will publish the consultation response by the end of the decade, industry bodies UJIFDA and OFTEC believe the scale of engagement demands more urgency.
“Given the clear mandate provided by 16,000 supporters, we are now urging the government to publish their findings and response much sooner.
“Homes and businesses off-grid deserve to have some certainty today, not in several years’ time.”
Photo taken by Margaret Major for Fuel Oil News