Farms and other rural businesses will be ‘unfairly penalised’ if government proposals to enforce electric heat technologies in rural areas are passed, the Liquid Gas UK trade association has warned.
In a move to decarbonise rural heating, the Heat and Buildings Strategy plans to phase out fossil fuel heating systems in over 100,000 off-grid businesses and two million homes, with the phase out beginning in 2026, which is nine years earlier than for those on England’s main gas grid.
Farms that rely on traditional fuels such as heating oil or LPG for space and water heating will be forced to install electrified technologies with expensive up-front install costs, such as heat pumps, if their current system breaks down.
Liquid Gas UK said the government should offer a range of options to rural businesses, including LPG and bioLPG, to support net zero ambitions.
“A blanket approach to the decarbonisation of rural heat fails to consider the complex needs of farming businesses,” said Sophia Haywood, director of public affairs at Liquid Gas UK. “The agricultural community relies heavily on traditional fuels for heating and hot water – their energy needs are vast.” She added that rural communities should be able to choose how best to heat their businesses and homes.
Photo source: Gray Fuel