A new heating and cooking biofuel fuel that could revolutionise the oil heating and cooking industry through reduced carbon emissions has completed field trials successfully. The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) conducted the trials in partnership with the Low Carbon Innovation Centre/University of East Anglia, the ICOM Energy Association and with industry partners.
They tested fuels which blended either 30 or 50 per cent of the bio element, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) with either kerosene or gas-oil. The FAME was derived from used cooking oil. The fuel that blends 30 per cent FAME with 70 per cent kerosene (B30K) has been accepted by the Government as eligible for the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). If this is introduced, says OFTEC, households converting to the fuel will receive a substantial annual payment.
B30K has a carbon emission factor of 0.205kg CO2 per kilowatt/hr — which is 28 per cent less than that of 100 per cent kerosene, and is similar to that of mains gas. OFTEC estimates show that if 1.1 million homes in the UK switch to the B30K fuel by 2020 the CO2 savings for the UK would be 1.035 million tonnes each year.
“The 12 month field trials have been successful and the results are very encouraging," said OFTEC Director General Jeremy Hawksley. "We have not experienced any oil storage issues despite periods of extreme weather. Even at lows of -5degC, the converted boilers showed reliability and consistent performance.”
The cost of conversion
OFTEC estimates the cost of converting an existing oil fired appliance to use the new bio heating liquid to be as low as £250, but that in most domestic or small office installations a new oil tank will be required, increasing the total conversion costs to around £2000 — still less than the cost of installing a biomass boiler or a heat pump, says OFTEC.
Hawksley added “The option for existing oil users to switch to a liquid biofuel and kerosene blend could deliver significant carbon savings at modest cost.”
And Marcus Armes of the Low Carbon Innovation Centre at UEA commented: “Turning waste material, such as used cooking oil, into a useful product for heating and cooking is a wonderful example of how to achieve sustainable living. The partnership with OFTEC has proved to be very productive and we look forward to further collaboration.”
