Cornish hamlet resists net zero by harnessing the power of vegetable oil

Andrew Stevens received a quote of £30,000 to install a heat pump in his 1960s detached house. Despite his home being equipped with cavity wall insulation and UPVC windows, he finds the cost of renovating his house to accommodate a heat pump unappealing. Moreover, he claims that burning vegetable oil has reduced his emissions by 90%. “I haven’t had to spend anything to convert my boiler to be eco-friendly,” says Mr. Stevens. “While heat pumps continue to develop, I may consider them in the future. However, as long as there are other viable alternatives, I don’t see the need.”

The use of green heating oil, however, does come with its drawbacks. Concerns have been raised about the longevity of vegetable oil as well as the high excise duty rates it is subject to, making it more costly for households compared to kerosene.

Although the efficiency of vegetable oil and kerosene is similar, the latter is more expensive. Presently, a household can expect to pay £750-£800 to fill a 1,000l tank with kerosene. In contrast, filling the same tank with vegetable oil would cost around £1,500 due to higher excise duty rates. VAT is also higher for vegetable oil at 20%, compared to 5% for kerosene.

A campaign has been launched by George Eustice, the former environment secretary and MP for Camborne and Redruth, to address this issue. Amendments to the Energy Bill have been proposed to bring the cost of vegetable oil more in line with kerosene. Mr. Eustice stated, “It’s a no-brainer to allow households to use vegetable oil, provided the cost is on par with kerosene. This upcoming Energy Bill is the last opportunity for Parliament to express its views on this matter.”

Furthermore, Matt Weedon supports the cause: “We want hydrotreated vegetable oil to be on par with kerosene, although it may take some years to reach that point. However, it’s not really fair to compare kerosene and vegetable oil because the latter helps decarbonize properties and eliminates the need for expensive home upgrades, costing £30,000 or more. Rural communities, like everyone else, are concerned about the energy crisis, but they also acknowledge that going green comes at a cost.”