The energy transition in heating will require multiple solutions, and renewable and low-carbon liquid fuels are an important part of the mix.
Liquid heating fuels offer many advantages: they are easy to store and transport, have a high energy density for efficient heating, and benefit from an established supply infrastructure.
What Are low-carbon renewable liquid fuels?
The future of oil heating systems in Europe will rely on low-carbon and renewable liquid fuels. The technology is proven, and ongoing research continues to improve production processes. These fuels can be used in modern condensing boilers without major system changes, and the existing supply infrastructure can be fully leveraged.
These products are already in use at demonstration plants across Europe (see our brochure on EU field tests conducted with boiler manufacturers). Low-carbon liquid fuels are drop-in products, meaning they can be progressively blended with conventional fuels without significant investment.
Different types of REDII-compliant, drop-in fuels can be blended in varying proportions to reduce emissions.
FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester)
FAME is made by processing vegetable oils with methanol, producing a fuel that can be used for oil heating. It is already used in pilot installations.
BtL (Biomass-to-Liquid)
BtL fuels are produced from waste and biogenic residues and have the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional heating oil. The process involves converting biomass into synthesis gas, which is then transformed into liquid hydrocarbons that can be refined into heating oil, diesel, or gasoline. Demonstration plants are already in operation.
HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
HVO is made from used cooking oils, industrial food waste, and non-food vegetable oils. Hydrotreating is now a well-established, industrial-scale process, making HVO widely available.
Synthetic Fuels / e-Fuels
Synthetic fuels, also called e-fuels, are carbon-neutral and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a closed carbon cycle, while remaining in liquid form. They are produced via the Power-to-Liquid (PtL) process, using:
- Renewable electricity to produce hydrogen via electrolysis
- Carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere or other sources
- A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst process to synthesize the fuel
Electricity costs influence production prices, with regions of cheap renewable electricity (solar PV, wind, hydro) offering the best potential for economically viable e-fuels.
Raw materials used
