Heating with liquid fuels – The potential for liquid fuels to contribute to the EU's energy and climate policy

A life without heating oil is unthinkable for around 20 million households in the EU. These homes are currently using oil to heat their homes and their water, while new liquid fuel replacements are being developed. There are many advantages of having a liquid energy source for heating. It is easy to transport, can be stored on-site and is an economic way to provide heating – especially in rural areas. Such locations usually are not connected to the gas grid and have a limited electricity network. Off-grid people need energy supply and at present heating oil stored in tanks is the only way they can have it.

To replace fossil fuels, new liquid fuels, which are green-house gas-neutral, can be easily deployed. To future-proof their buildings, homeowners just have to modernise their heating, without replacing it. In this way, all the houses now using oil heating systems will be able to achieve Europe’s long-term climate targets.