Mixed-technology approach to retrofitting rural homes could boost adoption rates

Catherine Hannon, Public Affairs and Sustainability Manager at Calor Ireland, explains the challenges linked to the existing ‘one size fits all’ solution to heat decarbonisation. She highlights that choice and affordability are key to empowering rural homeowners to play their part in Ireland’s energy transition.

Energy needs are changing in Ireland. There is a drive to reduce the environmental impact of our energy choices and to reduce carbon emissions. At this pivotal moment for meeting our climate targets, companies need to propose pragmatic solutions to the energy and environmental challenges that our society faces.

Decision-makers and influencers must recognise that the success of Ireland’s ambitious retrofitting and decarbonisation targets lies in our ability to craft policies and solutions that are not only environmentally sound, but also socially and economically viable.

Recent data underscores the urgency for a range of solutions, particularly in the retrofitting sector, as oil usage in households continues to rise. As key decision-makers and influencers, it is incumbent upon government and industry to partner and deliver a range of innovative and inclusive approaches.

“Choice and affordability are crucial for rural energy consumers who are located off the natural gas grid, or those living in older homes using higher carbon fuels like oil, coal and peat,” explains Hannon. “Consumers should be made aware of all options, including the benefits of using cleaner, lower carbon and renewable liquid gases in their current heating system, along with improved energy efficiency measures.”

For almost 90 years, Calor has ensured that homes and businesses across Ireland – and particularly rural Ireland – have had access to clean, reliable, lower carbon energy, regardless of location. Calor’s purpose is to drive Ireland’s energy transition and create a sustainable future for generations to come. That purpose is underpinned by Calor’s achievement of the coveted Business Working Responsibly Mark in 2020, Ireland’s Environmental, Economic, Social and Governance (EESG) standard.

Calor’s responsible product strategy is to ensure that the source and supply of its products becomes increasingly renewable and sustainable, to meet its customer’s future needs. With the launch of a certified renewable liquid gas (BioLPG) in 2018, Calor demonstrated its commitment to playing an active role in Ireland’s transition to a decarbonised economy.

Recent government figures suggest that the national retrofitting and heat pump targets as set out in the National Retrofit Plan, could be missed. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) reported that 9,946 energy upgrades were completed, and 3,304 homes were upgraded to a BER B2 or higher, through government-funded SEAI grant schemes in the first quarter of 2023. By widening the choices available to homeowners, those figures could be accelerated.

At present, the scale of the task risks overwhelming consumers living in rural off-grid areas, leading to disengagement and inaction. Recognising the significance of factors influencing adoption is crucial, especially when acknowledging that climate targets require behavioural changes among citizens and urgent, transformative actions in key industries such as housing, transportation, and power generation.

In a recent report, Liquid Gas Ireland (LGI) analysed the latest census data and found that 46 per cent of all households are still reliant on high carbon fuels including oil, peat, and coal for heating. There has also been a national increase in the number of homes using oil since 2016. While the overall national proportion of households using these high carbon fuels has decreased slightly from 2016, the total number of housing units using oil has increased by 28,173 to 714,177.

“When scrutinising the data in more detail, it is clear that in some counties, especially those located off the natural gas grid, homeowners are extremely reliant on oil for heating. The LGI report shows that 66 per cent of homeowners in Donegal are reliant on oil, this is replicated across other counties too, for instance in Mayo (61 per cent), Monaghan (75 per cent), and Kerry (63 per cent).”

A further consideration is the age of Ireland’s housing stock, 65 per cent of all houses were built before 2001, according to CSO figures analysed by LGI. This equates to just over 1.2 million homes, which are typically less energy efficient and more costly to heat.

This ageing infrastructure poses a substantial challenge and often requires more extensive and costly interventions. It is not just about environmental impact; it is about the economic feasibility for homeowners.

“Many off-gas-grid buildings are older and difficult to electrify. For heat pumps to operate effectively, it requires the home to be well-insulated and this often requires an expensive, deep retrofit for rural homeowners and often the inconvenience of vacating the property during construction. This is not a viable option for all, therefore, solutions offered to decarbonise these households should be flexible enough to meet their needs,” states Hannon.

Calor’s traditional LPG product allows rural off-grid consumers to transition from higher carbon and more polluting fuels such as heating oil, coal and peat to a cleaner and lower carbon alternative. Continuing innovation by the liquid gas sector, has led to the development of rDME, a low carbon, sustainable liquid gas which is complimenting the advances being made by BioLPG.

rDME can be produced via gasification and catalytic synthesis, using feedstocks such as municipal solid waste, forest residues, animal waste, sewage/industrial sludge, and energy crops. It offers a versatile and flexible decarbonisation route for domestic and industrial heating, cooking applications, and the transport sector. rDME can also be blended with LPG or BioLPG and used in existing infrastructure, making it a more flexible and affordable option for homeowners and businesses in off-gas grid areas.

Calor advocates for a technology neutral approach to decarbonisation, which recognises that there are alternative, clean, lower carbon solutions available, including off-grid liquid gases – LPG, BioLPG and rDME. Renewable ready gas boilers combined with solar PV and moderate retrofitting measures, can also result in increased energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions, but at a significantly lower upfront cost. LPG and BioLPG can also be used seamlessly in cutting edge heating systems, such as hybrid heat pump installations.

Calor is committed to partnering with policymakers, industry and consumers to achieve an affordable, progressive, and step-by-step ‘just transition’ to decarbonisation.

T: +353 153 32081
E: Catherine.hannon@calorgas.ie
W: www.calorgas.ie