Success for Biofuels research project

The Oil Firing Technical Association, ICOM Energy Association (ICOM), the University of East Anglia and others have successfully trialled a new blended heating oil which combines a bio-fuel with kerosene or gas oil. A provisional specification for this new fuel will be issued in 2010.

This development means that in future households heated by oil will be able to switch to a greener alternative.  The new fuels will blend FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) with either kerosene or Gas oil.  The result is a substantial reduction in CO² emissions which brings a new 30% blend with kerosene (B30K) to a carbon emission factor similar to that of natural gas.

The B30K fuel has been recognised by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as a recipient of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which will be payable to building owners from 2011.  The purpose of the RHI is to encourage householders and others to move to renewable technologies.

Commenting on the new biofuel, Jeremy Hawksley, OFTEC Director said: “with 1.8 million households in the UK and the Republic of Ireland running on oil at the moment, it is important that we find a viable liquid fuel alternative which will have to be a biofuel.  In the immediate future it is important that existing boilers and cookers can run on the fuel and hence our intention to promote a blend of biofuel with kerosene or gas oil.  We estimate that by 2020 over 90% of households could have switched to this new fuel, and by then we will have developed a 100% biofuel for heating and cooking”.