The Future Ready Fuel campaign

As a full member of the UKIFDA and OFTEC trade bodies, Watson Fuels works closely with both organisations on the Future Read Fuel Campaign. Our shared goal is to find a low-carbon liquid fuel replacement for kerosene.

For over 50 years, heating oil (kerosene) has been a popular choice for homes off the gas grid. Today, around 1.5 million UK households use heating oil as their primary source of fuel for heating.

As part of wider plans to tackle climate change and meet the UK’s net-zero target, the Government has pledged to prioritise converting off-grid homes to low-carbon heating during the 2020s. In support of this, we’re proud to have been part of the UKIFDA and OFTEC Future Ready Fuel campaign, trialling a promising new renewable diesel called HVO at one of our depots and a small number of residential properties.

HVO, also known as Renewable Diesel - is a practical, green alternative to heating oil for rural homes

There are already several alternative heat technologies that generate lower greenhouse gas emissions than heating oil. But installing them is expensive and often requires extensive changes to properties. For homes off the gas grid – which vary in age, design, and construction and often have period features – switching to low-carbon heating can be impractical. The Future Ready Fuel campaign is searching for a more suitable alternative.

As a full member of the UKIFDA and OFTEC trade bodies, Watson Fuels works closely with both organisations on the Future Ready Fuel campaign. Our shared goal is to find a low-carbon liquid fuel that will act as a drop-in replacement for kerosene. We believe this option would be the least costly and least disruptive solution for homeowners who currently use heating oil. In most cases, they’d be able to cut emissions without changing their existing heating systems.

HVO stands for hydrotreated vegetable oil, sometimes also known as Renewable Diesel. It is an advanced biofuel, made from vegetable oils or animal fats, that results in up to 90% reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions* when used in place of fossil-fuels.
As part of the nationwide Future Ready Fuel trials we converted one of our own oil-fired boilers to run on HVO, as well as funding an extensive two-year trial with customers to provide proof-of-concept.

A new fuel made from certified 100% renewable materials, HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) results in up to 90% lower CO2 emissions than kerosene*.

HVO could also be a practical way to heat your home. Because the sustainable raw materials go through specialist hydrotreatment, HVO has high levels of purity for long shelf life and excellent cold weather properties. For more information please visit the Future Ready Fuel website.
Watson Fuels was proud to be part of a UK-wide trial looking at the effectiveness of HVO in a small number of homes and properties. Working with UKIFDA and OFTEC, we are hopeful that HVO will be supported by the Government as a route to decarbonise off-grid heating.

The initiative’s success has led to the government to commit to a study on the use of renewable liquid fuels as a viable option for decarbonising off-grid heating, and specifically to explore mechanisms that may enable the fuel to be offered at a more affordable cost. Currently, the cost of HVO is significantly higher than the cost of kerosene. We’re hopeful that the government keep their commitment to this campaign.

Find out more about HVO on the Future Ready Fuel website
Consider switching to Carbon Offset Fuel as an immediate and interim measure to reduce your carbon footprint. If you’d like to explore other ways to reduce your overall carbon footprint, our Carbon Offset Fuel is a straightforward and effective place to start. You won’t need to use a different fuel. Simply select our Carbon Offset Fuel option when you top up to contribute to projects that help to counteract your fuel’s emissions. More about carbon offset fuel here >

_{*Based on UK Government 2021 GHG conversion factors for scope 1 emissions.}

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As a full member of the UKIFDA and OFTEC trade bodies, Watson Fuels works closely with both organisations on the Future Read Fuel Campaign. Our shared goal is to find a low-carbon liquid fuel replacement for kerosene.

HVO, also known as Renewable Diesel - is a practical, green alternative to heating oil for rural homes

Use our carbon calculator to help understand your CO2 impact

Support the Future Ready Fuel Campaign

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