The Government has proposed a ban on the installation of oil boilers from 2026, potentially affecting the 14% of households across North Devon who live off the gas grid. When oil boilers need replacing households will currently have to replace them with low carbon alternatives such as air source heat pumps. Selaine Saxby MP has written to the Prime Minister calling for the Government to support the conversion of oil boilers to use Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) which is a cheaper option for households.
In efforts to decarbonise heating across the UK on the road to net zero, the Government has proposed the ban on oil boilers, however this disproportionately affects rural households. Low carbon heating options such as air source heat pumps are seen as a suitable alternative for households to install in their place.
Air source heat pumps require well insulated buildings to work effectively, but rural homes are typically older and draughtier, and the reduced ventilation required can increase the risk of mould. Whilst in coastal areas the equipment is prone to rust and decay. Air source heat pumps come at a considerable cost, costing households between £20,000-£30,000 to install a heat pump and to undertake all the necessary retrofitting and insulation works required to make it effective.
HVO is produced from waste products, such as used vegetable cooking oil, animal fat residue and tall oil, a by product of wood pulp manufacture. It is independently assessed in terms of sustainability and also passes the strict UK Government benchmarks as a sustainable fuel, and is shown to reduce carbon output by 88%. Indeed, the Government already encourages its use in transport. The conversion of oil boilers to use HVO is also significantly cheaper, it only costs around £500 per household.
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, said:
“We all wish to decarbonise our homes and businesses and reach net zero by 2050, however the proposed ban disproportionately impacts rural households. At a time when households are still feeling the effects of Putin’s illegal war on energy prices it is important we decarbonise in an affordable way that does not put rural homeowners at a disadvantage.
“This proposed ban is a potential ‘Rural ULEZ’ and since it was proposed there has been much development of HVO and air source heat pumps are no longer the only low carbon option. I call on the Government to reconsider the ban and I am supporting amendments proposed by former Secretary of State, Cornwall MP, George Eustice in the upcoming Energy Bill to allow HVO to be used in oil boilers.
“I fully support the road to net zero as I strongly believe it is not only crucial for the health of our environment, but is also the best way to insulate British bill payers from future energy price shocks such as those we saw after the invasion of Ukraine. However it must be acknowledged that despite our abundance of wind and tide it is harder to decarbonise rural areas such as North Devon and rural households must not face higher costs for doing so.”
Selaine Saxby MP is supporting the former Secretary of State, George Eustice, MP for Redruth and Camborne, and his amendments to the Energy Bill which is returning to the House of Commons on the 5th September. The amendments would reduce the price of HVO for heating, in line with similar work in the transport sector, making it a realistic option for households.
