Eurofuel

The European Heating Oil Association (Eurofuel) represents the national organisations that promote the use of fuel for domestic heating in 10 European countries, with over 10,000 companies. Eurofuel is engaged in the development of common standards and innovative techniques for heating oil and equipment, primarily in domestic heating.

Eurofuel´s members cover the complete oil heating supply chain from ¨well to radiator¨, comprising large and small oil companies, traders and distributors, heating equipment manufacturers, energy advisors, through to heating installers. Members are committed to ensuring the competitiveness and efficiency of heating oil, while reducing its environmental footprint.

A heating vision

For Eurofuel, the concept of energy efficiency is key to addressing the use of both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources in the heating sector. Most of these energy savings will come from Europe´s existing housing stock, rather than new construction projects. Eurofuel´s members undertake training of heating installers, energy advisers and construction professionals, to ensure that both new and replacement heating systems are correctly designed, sized and installed. Replacement of existing oil boilers by the most up-to-date condensing types, which have energy efficiencies of approximately 98%, usually represents the most cost-effective energy saving solution for domestic homes. To compare; gas- and oil-fired boilers over 15 years of age have much lower energy efficiencies of some 80%; many modern wood and pellets boilers still only attain energy efficiencies of around 80%-85%. Therefore, installing a modern oil-fired boiler can save 20% of energy immediately.

Figure 1: Very High Efficiency Hybrid Oil Heating & Hot Water System, Combining Three Types of Renewable Energy Sources

Hybrid and high efficiency

Figure 1 shows a modern, high efficiency, hybrid oil/ renewables heating and hot water solution, utilising three types of renewable energy sources. The combination of oil heating and solar thermal technology works very well – in Germany, it is estimated that 25% of all oil-heated homes have now also installed solar thermal technologies. In Southern Europe, solar thermal collectors are already well established.

An auxiliary wood stove in the lounge area represents an attractive auxiliary means of incorporating another, third source of renewable energy.

Research and development, and consumer trials

In order to benefit from the ultra high efficiency of modern condensing technology oil boilers, whilst being able at the same time to incorporate a renewable component via bioliquid blends (vegetable oil, biodiesel, biokerosene, etc) Eurofuel´s 10 national European member trade associations, in cooperation with the Association of the European Heating Industry, are currently conducting laboratory tests and consumer field trials. These trials have been running since the winter of 2006, and examine the ideal autonomous hybrid liquid fuels combination of blending a substantial renewable component of bio-liquids, for example, 20-30%, with low-sulphur heating oil.

Figure 2: The Potential of Bioliquid Blends in Heating Oil Across the EU – Rapid, Cost-Efficient Uptake of Renewables in Domestic Heating

This technology has enormous potential. A 20% bio-liquid blend across Europe’s 30 million oil-fired heating systems would be equivalent to six million heating appliances powered by 100% renewable energy, as Figure 2 illustrates.

Furthermore, an underlying stipulation of the project is to develop bioliquid blends which ensure full compatibility with existing oil heating systems. This will enable oil heating consumers to adopt a proportion of renewable energy sources to fulfil the EU’s ‘20-20-20 by 2020’ vision whilst avoiding the expense of changing their current heating boilers and associated equipment.

In the past, liquid biofuels have been regarded as being mainly for transport. However, the current EU Renewables Directive proposal under discussion enshrines the principle of so-called “bioliquids”, precisely for use in non-transport sectors. Liquid biofuels are as important for heating and stationary purposes as they are for the transport sector, and ‘bio’ does not solely mean wood or wood-derived solid fuels. Obviously, in addition, all policy discussions on domestic heating and the provision of hot water have to take into account the energy efficiency of buildings, and reducing the energy demand at source via efficient, aesthetic architecture.

The mantra of Eurofuel and its members is that “Reducing energy consumption is vital whether the primary energy source is renewable or fossil”.

W: www.eurofuel.eu