The key to retrofitting Ireland’s rural homes: Embracing a mixed-technology approach
Catherine Hannon, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Calor Ireland, discusses the opportunity of a mixed technology approach to retrofitting and heat decarbonisation versus a ‘one size fits all’ solution. She emphasises that providing choice and affordability is essential to empower rural homeowners to contribute to Ireland’s energy transition.
“Choice and affordability are crucial for rural energy consumers who are located off the natural gas grid or living in older homes using higher carbon fuels like oil, coal, and peat,” explains Catherine Hannon. “Consumers should be provided with a range of options, including cleaner, lower carbon, and renewable liquid gases, along with improved energy efficiency measures”.
With the increasing spotlight on the evolution of Ireland’s energy needs, there is a growing push to reduce the environmental impact of our energy choices and cut carbon emissions. At this critical juncture for achieving our climate targets, companies must offer pragmatic solutions to the energy and environmental challenges our society faces.
The success of Ireland’s ambitious retrofitting and decarbonisation targets hinges on our ability to develop policies and solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also socially and economically viable. Data* that was reported in 2024 around the continued increase in oil usage for home heating in Ireland, highlighted the urgent need for a variety of solutions, particularly in the retrofitting sector, a trend that continues to impact the housing market indicating that government and industry must collaborate to deliver innovative and inclusive approaches to retrofitting homes.
For nearly 90 years, Calor has provided clean, reliable, lower carbon energy to homes and businesses across Ireland, especially in rural areas. Calor’s mission is to drive Ireland’s energy transition and create a sustainable future for generations to come. This mission is supported by Calor’s reaccreditation to the Business Working Responsibly Mark in 2024, Ireland’s third party (NSAI) verified Environmental, Economic, Social, and Governance (EESG) standard.
Calor’s responsible product strategy aims to ensure that the source and supply of its products become increasingly renewable and sustainable to meet future customers’ needs. The launch of a certified renewable liquid gas (BioLPG) in 2018, demonstrated Calor’s commitment to playing an active role in Ireland’s transition to a decarbonised economy. BioLPG, or bio propane, is chemically indistinct from LPG and as a ‘drop-in’ fuel, can be blended with LPG without a change of equipment.
Renewable-ready gas boilers combined with solar PV and moderate retrofitting measures can also result in increased energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions 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.
By expanding the choices available to homeowners, Ireland’s retrofitting goals could be greatly accelerated. Currently, the scale of the task risks overwhelming consumers in rural off-grid areas, leading to disengagement and inaction. Recognising the significance of factors influencing adoption is crucial, especially when considering that climate targets require behavioural changes among citizens and urgent, transformative actions in key industries such as housing, transportation, and power generation.
The most recent report* by Liquid Gas Ireland (LGI) which analysed the latest census data, found that 46 per cent of all households still rely 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 2017. While the overall national proportion of households using these high carbon fuels has slightly decreased since 2017, the total number of housing units using oil has increased by 28,173 to 714,177.
“When examining the data in more detail, it is clear that in some counties, especially those off the natural gas grid, homeowners are highly reliant on oil for heating. The LGI report shows that 66 per cent of homeowners in Donegal rely on oil, and this trend is replicated in other counties such as Mayo (61 per cent), Monaghan (75 per cent), and Kerry (63 per cent).”
Another consideration is the age of Ireland’s housing stock. According to CSO figures analysed by LGI, 65 per cent of all houses were built before 2002, equating to just over 1.2 million homes. These homes are typically less energy-efficient and more costly to heat.
This ageing infrastructure poses a significant 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, homes need to be well-insulated, often requiring an expensive, deep retrofit and the inconvenience of vacating the property during construction. This is not a viable option for everyone, so solutions 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. Continued innovation in the liquid gas sector is investigating the development of rDME, a low carbon, sustainable liquid gas that will complement the advances 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 and offers a versatile and flexible decarbonisation route for domestic and industrial heating, cooking applications, and the transport sector.
Calor advocates for a technology-neutral approach to decarbonisation, recognising that there are alternative, clean, lower carbon solutions available, including off-grid liquid gases – LPG, BioLPG, and in the future, rDME.
“Choice and affordability are crucial for rural energy consumers who are located off the natural gas grid or living in older homes using higher carbon fuels like oil, coal, and peat.”
Catherine Hannon, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Calor Ireland.
Heat decarbonisation policy interventions, such as the proposed Renewable Heat Obligation, should ensure a level playing field for all renewable fuels. Calor continues to highlight the need for parity in Government support for both on grid and off natural gas grid consumers, to assist with the cost of the transition to renewable fuels, as well as the cost of retrofitting. With the right market policy supports, there is also an opportunity to advance the development and production of renewable liquid gas (BioLPG and rDME) in future, here in Ireland.
Calor is committed to partnering with policymakers, industry, and consumers to achieve an affordable, progressive, and ‘just transition’ to decarbonisation.
W: www.calorgas.ie
