Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is used by many organisations and individuals as fuel for heating and vehicles. Indeed, more people may switch to LPG in the wake of a report published by the trade association UKLPG.
The body launched a report entitled Targeting Carbon Reduction in off Grid Britain: the Case for LP Gas, setting out what it describes as a “clear case” for how the fuel can help to minimise carbon emissions, reduce fuel bills and deliver secure energy supplies in rural parts of the UK.
UKLPG wants the government to ensure that the resource plays a key role in Britain’s plans to meet its carbon reduction targets in the future.
It used independent analysis undertaken by Delta Energy & Environment (Delta-EE) in the report, which concludes that LPG fuelled appliances and hybrid appliances can play a major role in cutting carbon emissions and energy bills for rural customers.
Delta-EE’s research examined four typical building types and it reviewed existing and new heating technologies, including hybrid air source heat pumps, fuel cell micro combined heat and power, LPG absorption heat pump technology, boiler plus solar thermal, boiler plus flue gas heat recovery and boiler plus controls. It found that in old detached properties, LPG heat pumps deliver annual savings of around 3.5 tonnes of CO2. Meanwhile, rural hotels show savings of ten tonnes per year.
Commenting on the study, senior analyst at Delta-EE Jennifer Arran said: “The report explores the role that LP Gas can play in a range of typical building types, looking at retrofitability, running cost savings as well as carbon reduction potential. The conclusions demonstrate the positive contribution that LP Gas, in combination with hybrid and low carbon gas appliances, can make to meeting the UK’s demanding carbon reduction targets.”
Also responding to the findings, director at the Heating & Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC) Roger Webb, remarked: “HHIC is actively tackling the challenges that the Zero Carbon goal has provided the industry in meeting the 2020 and 2050 targets.
“The industry believes it can deliver this scenario but only if the government plays a role in stimulating demand in a coordinated way and building confidence for industry and other players to invest.”
Meanwhile, UKLPG chief executive Rob Shuttleworth suggested that the gas has “significant potential” to contribute to the issues faced by the industry, as well as by rural communities. The report has served to quantify these benefits in different scenarios, helping to reinforce the importance of LPG, he added.
In comments that may interest people planning an LPG changeover, Mr Shuttleworth stated that, as a by-product of the gas industry, LPG is “widely available, extremely reliable and becoming increasingly price competitive”. The expert added that there has never been a better time to exploit the benefits associated with the gas.
Anyone keen to benefit from an LPG switch can head online to get the full low down. As Mr Shuttleworth pointed out, it is now easy for consumers and companies to access this resource.