Decarbonisation of rural dwellings can be accelerated through a ‘mixed technology’ policy approach in Europe and domestically which embraces the use of lower carbon and renewable liquid gas
European and domestic policy must promote a ‘Just Transition’ to decarbonisation which provides accessible, affordable, and fair options for all homes and businesses to reduce energy emissions. That’s the message to election candidates in the manifestos published by Liquid Gas Ireland (LGI), the representative body for companies in the liquid gas (LPG) and BioLPG industry.
If elected to local government or the European Parliament on 7th June, LGI is calling on candidates to:
- Deliver a ‘Just Transition’ to decarbonisation which offers a broader suite of options to support a wide cohort of rural households and businesses reduce energy emissions.
- Champion a ‘mixed technology’ approach to emissions reduction which supports the use of lower carbon liquid gas (LPG) and renewable liquid gas (BioLPG / rDME) combined with other renewable technologies.
- Support cleaner air quality by ensuring consumers in regions heavily reliant on high carbon peat and coal, can utilise the clean air benefits of LPG and BioLPG.
- Drive the progression of renewable liquid gas production by supporting policy that encourages the development of advanced feedstocks.
Commenting, LGI Policy Director, Philip Hannon said: “Irish citizens are acutely aware of the ambitious target set by the European Union to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The blueprint for delivering this in Ireland is determined by the Government’s Climate Action Plan. Reducing carbon emissions from home heating has an important role to play in our overall decarbonisation journey, however there is significant scope to expand the focus of how this is achieved.
“Our analysis of 2022 Census data shows that 67% of households outside Dublin, Cork City, and Galway City rely on oil, peat, and coal as their primary energy source for home heating, and the number of households using oil for home heating has actually increased since 2016 by 28,173 to 714,177. This clearly indicates the narrow set of decarbonisation options currently being put forward is not working for rural and older dwellings, particularly those located off the natural gas grid.
“If elected on 7th June, we urge candidates to promote policy from local authority to European Parliament level that provides rural dwellings the same variety of choices to decarbonise as those located in urban settings. If citizens in rural areas are to realistically engage with decarbonisation, the policy focus must be expanded beyond the current ‘one size fits all’ approach to achieving emissions targets, by embracing a technology neutral position.”
Accelerating decarbonisation through a ‘mixed technology’ approach
Liquid Gas Ireland strongly argues for a ‘mixed technology’ approach which supports the use of lower carbon liquid gas (LPG) and renewable liquid gas (BioLPG / rDME) combined with other renewable technologies. The association advocates that this would significantly accelerate the decarbonisation of homes and businesses in rural off natural gas grid areas who lack alternative options to reduce heating emissions.
Mr Hannon added: “The role that lower carbon LPG, renewable BioLPG and, in time rDME can play as part of a ‘mixed technology’ approach to emissions reduction must be recognised both locally and in Europe. We must ensure that European as well as domestic policy does not prevent the option to switch to a renewable ready gas boiler. This should be supported as a more sustainable option for consumers in rural areas off the natural gas grid. We also see an opportunity to align a switch to lower carbon LPG or renewable BioLPG with existing and new energy efficient schemes to lift the BER of rural dwellings at a much lower cost.
“We are continuing to work towards our 2050 industry ambition to supply European demand for liquid gas through renewable BioLPG and rDME. However, to fulfil this ambitious target, it’s imperative that we establish a strong and enabling legislative environment, to enhance production, distribution, and use of renewable liquid gas. We would like to see the implementation of policy mechanisms and support schemes that place renewable liquid gas as an integral part of the energy transition as we work towards net zero by 2050,” Mr Hannon concluded.
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