26 June 2024
Rural heating poll highlights policy challenges facing UK election candidates
With the UK Parliamentary election well underway, newly published consumer research has highlighted that decarbonising rural heating is an important voter concern.
In the poll of just under 1,000 rural homeowners, carried out by the Future Ready Fuel campaign, 85% of respondents said the government and opposition party policies on low-carbon home heating will influence how they cast their vote at the ballot box.
31 May 2024
Exploring Consumer Insights: awareness, opinion and willingness to use low-carbon liquid fuels in Belgium
As the energy market continues to evolve, the need for consumer insights becomes increasingly critical. To address this, our Belgian member, in4fuels, embarked on a comprehensive "Fuels of the Future Survey." This online survey assessed heating oil users' knowledge, willingness, and price sensitivity regarding new generation fuels (low-carbon liquid fuels). With 5,263 participants, this survey broadly represents Belgian heating oil users, providing valuable insights into their attitudes towards cleaner energy options. Here, we share five key findings from the survey.
06 May 2024
Eurofuel's Policy Priorities 2024-2029: Ensuring a Sustainable and Affordable Energy Transition
In the wake of unprecedented challenges in the energy landscape, Eurofuel stands at the forefront, advocating for pragmatic solutions that balance environmental sustainability with affordability and reliability. As the representative body for the European liquid heating fuel sector, Eurofuel is committed to driving the transition towards low-carbon energy sources while ensuring the continued comfort and affordability of heating for European citizens.
22 April 2024
The Renewable Fuel Revolution: Heating of the Future
Discussions about environmental sustainability and actions against climate change have brought renewable energy forms to the forefront. An intriguing perspective in this discussion relates to renewable fuel, particularly as a replacement for heating oil. Ernst-Moritz Bellingen, President of Eurofuel and an expert in the field, emphasises the importance of renewable liquid fuels as replacements for fossil fuels.
08 April 2024
Switzerland has a new CO2 Act without strict bans on oil heating
In 2021, the existing CO2 Act of 2011 was revised in Switzerland and heavily criticised as it contained rules that would have been equal to a ban on oil heating. Various planned measures would have significantly increased the cost of fossil fuels and heating oil, which was unpopular with the citizens. A referendum was held, and the law was rejected.
25 March 2024
Green Fuels Ready - Small label stands for future-proofing
The building sector is responsible for around a quarter of Germany's CO2 emissions. This sector is therefore crucial to the success of the energy transition.
The amendment to the Building Energy Act, which came into force on 1 January 2024, therefore provides for new heating systems to be operated proportionately with renewable energies in future after certain transitional periods following modernisation. The Green Fuels Ready label identifies heating systems, tanks and components that have been approved by the manufacturer for use with up to 100% renewable fuels.
11 March 2024
EWO consumers survey reveals: Austrians are extraordinarily satisfied with their oil-heating systems
In February 2024 EWO (Energie.Wärme.Österreich) – The Austrian Competence Centre for Domestic Heating and Liquid Fuels – conducted a survey among 8,627 oil-heating households throughout Austria.
27 February 2024
HVO demonstration project provides blue print for fair and affordable heat decarbonisation in UK and Ireland
After three successful heating seasons, a full report on work designed to demonstrate the viability of HVO in heating has been published. This UK project, which was funded entirely by industry, focussed on the real-world use of HVO, so existing heating systems were utilised in the 126 participating homes and nine non-domestic buildings.
12 February 2024
Building Energy Law: New rules in Germany
The German government has revised the building energy law. It came into force at the beginning of 2024. The law aims to increase the share of renewable energies in the heat supply. The good news is that the law provides for transitional solutions and a wide range of options for modernising oil heating systems.
29 January 2024
Informazout becomes in4fuels: A logical step in the energy transition
Informazout has changed its name and is now called in4fuels. This new name and accompanying visual identity expresses the ambition of the board and members of Informazout to focus even more on sustainable heating. Over the years, our field of action had expanded considerably due to the growing demand for more sustainable energy solutions. Hence our organisation’s name no longer covered what we do. With in4fuels, we emphasise that we are committed to all liquid fuels, especially those including renewable liquid fuels.
15 January 2024
The Kerava-Tuusula fire station heats up with renewable heating oil
Located in the Kerava-Tuusula area in Finland, the fire station has adopted a unique and environmentally friendly heating solution. Managed by Kerava Energy, a compact container has been the primary source of heat for the fire station since its completion. For the past couple of years, the station has exclusively used renewable heating oil. Transitioning to renewable heating oil was a hassle-free operation, requiring only minor adjustments to the burner and the replacement of the flame detector.
02 January 2024
Citizens' Forum in Austria
In Austria, oil-heating households have their say: Since the end of 2022 EWO (Energie.Wärme.Österreich) – the Austrian competence centre for domestic heating and liquid fuels - has been touring Austria.
19 December 2023
What next for liquid fuel heating in the UK?
Since 2016, the UK’s heat policy has proposed that off-gas grid buildings be transitioned to low carbon heating early in the process of achieving net zero. The installation of fossil fuel appliances such as oil and LPG was to be phased out by 2026, with heat pumps the intended replacement technology.
25 July 2023
The biggest European energy event: EUSEW 2023
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2023 took place from 20 to 22 June 2023. It is the biggest European annual conference dedicated to renewables and energy efficiency.
30 June 2023
Eurofuel experts debate on hybrid systems (spoiler: they are a great solution!)
At the June 15 "Eurofuel briefing" that took place in Edinburgh, participants bowed to the topic of HYBRID HEATING.
25 May 2023
Fit and ready for the green transition
The Council has adopted its position on the proposed regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products.
11 May 2023
Why hybrid systems matter to decarbonise heating
Raphael Lang, from Bosch Home Comfort Group, gives his insights on hybrid heating systems: how they work, why they are needed to decarbonise heating, and how to overcome obstacles to their deployment.
27 April 2023
Many Europeans are waiting for low carbon liquid fuels to make their heating more climate friendly
Several surveys on heating issues conducted by Eurofuel members showed a strong consensus on one point in particular: heating owners want to make their heating more climate-friendly, and they want renewable liquid fuels to enable them to do so.
13 April 2023
Renewable heating oil is a fast and effective tool for reducing emissions in Finland
In Finland, around 130 000 homes use oil for heating. Their energy use makes up around 1,5 percent and their carbon emissions around 2 percent of the total amount for the country. The fastest and most efficient way to reduce their emissions is to start using renewable fuel that is available throughout the country.
30 March 2023
Eurofuel's take-aways from ISH2023
Eurofuel participated to ISH, the world's leading trade fair for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Let's see what happened!
16 March 2023
Belgian ‘Promaz fund’
Belgian ‘Promaz fund’ provides help and financial support for soil remediation after heating oil leaks.
02 March 2023
The current discussions on EU energy policy and their influence on Switzerland
Bernhard Wüest, project manager for alternative energies at Avenergy Suisse, kindly replied to Eurofuel's questions.
16 February 2023
Long-term commitment to decarbonising liquid fuel heating in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland
OFTEC’s journey towards renewable liquid fuels has lasted over a decade, but our commitment to decarbonisation has remained consistent despite the many twists and turns of government heat policy.
02 February 2023
EWO-Symposium: Renewable liquid fuels – research and development worldwide
How can renewable liquid fuels contribute to the energy transition? And what is their current research and development status? These questions were addressed at the EWO-Symposium in Vienna, Austria on 26 January 2023.
19 January 2023
eFuels Alliance - Our interview
Ralf Diemer, Managing Director of the eFuels Alliance, an association striving to promote the ramp-up of synthetic fuels globally, kindly replied to Eurofuel's questions.
05 January 2023
Germany: Government aims for 65 percent renewable energies in heating systems
The German government is planning an amendment to the current Building Energy Act. Among other things, it is planned that new heating systems must use 65 percent renewable energies with immediate effect. How will it impact the homes using liquid heating fuel?
15 December 2022
European Waste-based & Advanced Biofuels Association - Our interview
Angel Alberdi, Secretary General of EWABA, the European Waste-based & Advanced Biofuels Association, kindly replied to Eurofuel's questions.
09 December 2022
IWO Austria’s renaming into EWO (Energie.Wärme.Österreich)
The energy transition makes urgent demands on the heating market. Against this background, IWO Austria takes the next step.
10 November 2022
A long way for biofuels in Switzerland
In Switzerland, oil heating plays an important role. An estimated 750,000 houses are heated with oil, which accounts for about 40%.
27 October 2022
Will the current economic crisis open the door for renewable liquid fuels in the UK?
The current high energy costs affecting much of Europe raises some interesting policy questions for the UK governments.
13 October 2022
How do we reconcile social, economic and environmental issues in the context of the US heating oil industry?
Marine Cornelis, Founder of Next Energy Consumer, and Dr. Tom Butcher, Technical Director of the United States National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), have a conversation in the latest podcast of Energ'Ethic.
29 September 2022
Compatibility between boilers and low carbon and renewable heating fuels: what did German field tests taught us?
The climate targets can also be achieved with a modern oil condensing boiler. Renewable liquid fuels play an important role here. This is shown by corresponding practical tests with proportionately "green" heating oil.
15 September 2022
Belgium: Full-scale test for R33 passed
R33 has been used in 15 residential Belgian heating systems for almost a year. The test results are unanimous: this mixture of domestic heating oil, HVO and FAME is suitable for heating systems that are less than 20 years old.
01 September 2022
In Finland, there could already be a solution for emission-free oil heating
With the right policy framework, Finland has all it needs to decarbonise liquid fuel heating.
28 July 2022
France is getting ready to use rapeseed for heating
Electrification is not the only option to decarbonise residential heating. France is convinced that there are alternatives, and is implementing them.
14 July 2022
Sun to liquid, an alternative way to green fuel
One disadvantage of e-fuel production is their high demand for electrical energy. In times where Europe face a serious risk of electricity shortages some search for alternative production methods. Sun-to-liquid or Solar fuels could be one solution.
30 June 2022
Will pragmatism prevail in UK and Irish heat policy?
In both Ireland and the UK, heat pumps are the preferred solution, but the governments face a range of economic and practical challenges. The sector makes the case that low-carbon and renewable liquid fuels are a pragmatic and efficient solution to decarbonise heating in those countries.
17 June 2022
eFuels made in Austria
A new generation of liquid fuels, so-called XtL (X-to-liquid), is currently developed and tested for the domestic heating market. In Graz, Austria, a PtL(Power-to-Liquid) demonstration plant is currently under construction...
02 June 2022
Heating with liquid fuels: what are our American neighbours doing?
Both the European Union and the United States of America are looking at a future where decarbonised heating is a reality and liquid fuels play their role.
19 May 2022
Launch of the Green Fuels Ready label
A further guarantee for the sector
BDH, the German Heating Equipment Association, is launching the 'Green Fuels Ready' label in cooperation with en2x, the German Association of Fuels and Energy. The label indicates the compatibility of boilers, tanks and components with the new low-carbon liquid fuels. Dr Ernst-Moritz Bellingen, Director of en2x and President of Eurofuel, explains.
22 April 2022
Liquid heating fuel: How users can reduce their consumption
There are a number of reasons to reduce your liquid heating fuel consumption: you want to play your part to save energy, you want to cut on your bills... Here is what you can do: