On 4 December 2025, Eurofuel hosted a technical webinar entitled “Renewables in Action: Biodiesel (FAME) Pathways in France and the U.S.”, bringing together experts from Europe and the United States to discuss how renewable liquid fuels are already contributing to the decarbonisation of heating.
With millions of households on both sides of the Atlantic still relying on liquid fuels, the discussion focused on practical solutions that can deliver emissions reductions quickly, affordably, and without requiring major changes to buildings or energy infrastructure.
Dr. Ernst-Moritz Bellingen, Head of Domestic Heating at en2x and President of Eurofuel, opened the webinar by placing renewable liquid fuels within the broader energy transition. He underlined that Europe’s diverse and largely existing building stock requires flexible, technology-neutral approaches. Renewable liquid fuels can be transported and stored easily, work well in hybrid heating systems, and make use of existing installations, helping households cut emissions while maintaining security of supply.
The situation in France was presented by Simon Massot, Sales & Marketing Director at Suntec. He explained how policy measures introduced in 2022 have accelerated the use of biodiesel blends for heating. Around three million French households still depend on liquid fuels, and the rollout of F30 has rapidly gained traction as a way to reduce emissions by around 20 percent. Volumes sold have increased sharply since launch, accompanied by growing sales of biofuel-compatible boilers. Field testing of higher blends, including F55 and F100, is now under way, pointing to a gradual but steady pathway towards higher renewable shares in the coming years, provided regulatory frameworks evolve accordingly.
From the U.S. perspective, Michael Devine, President of the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), shared more than a decade of experience with biodiesel use in heating. He described how biodiesel is already widely used across the heating market, progressing from low-level blends to much higher percentages and even 100 percent biodiesel in selected applications. Extensive field data collected by NORA shows that biodiesel can be used reliably, with no significant increase in operational issues when quality standards and good practices are applied. This experience underpins the U.S. heating sector’s commitment to deep greenhouse gas reductions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The practical realities of biodiesel deployment were addressed by Ian Lindsay, Director of Marketing at R.W. Beckett Corporation. He stressed that fuels, equipment, standards, and skills must evolve together. Successful decarbonisation depends on ensuring compatibility across the full heating system, from fuel storage to combustion, supported by clear standards, proper filtration and handling, and well-trained technicians. His message was clear: biodiesel is not a future concept but a solution already working on the ground.
Across all presentations, a consistent message emerged. Renewable liquid fuels such as biodiesel are already delivering tangible CO₂ reductions in heating, using existing infrastructure and appliances. When supported by clear policy signals, robust standards, and technical expertise, they offer a pragmatic and scalable pathway to decarbonise heat while keeping energy affordable for consumers.
