OFTEC conference: Renewable liquid fuels can solve Labour’s growing decarbonisation challenge
12 June 2025
The liquid fuel heating industry is primed and ready to roll out its renewable solution for off-grid homes, amid growing recognition in the Labour government of the challenges they face in transitioning rural homes onto low carbon heating under their existing policy plans.
That was the message from OFTEC’s 2025 Conference, held in Tewkesbury, which saw leaders across the heating industry gather to continue their ongoing collaboration to provide affordable and practical low carbon heating solutions for the UK’s off-grid households.
OFTEC chairman Martin Cooke opened the conference, recognising another year of continued innovation and investment across the liquid fuel heating sector to prepare for a rollout of renewable liquid fuels. Martin also confirmed Neil Sawers, Commercial Technical Manager at Grant Engineering UK, as the new OFTEC chairman for the next two years.
The first speaker at the event was OFTEC CEO Paul Rose who provided a summary of the current off-grid landscape. He highlighted the high costs both government and consumers would face under Labour’s existing electrification plans for rural homes.
Paul also shared details of OFTEC’s recent positive meetings with the government, including Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, ahead of the publication of the Warm Homes Plan expected later this year, and the growing interest in renewable liquid fuels as an alternative solution.
Neil Sawers, Commercial Technical Manager at Grant Engineering UK, then shared further details of the potential role of hybrid systems, incorporating both renewable liquid fuels and heat pumps, to provide a flexible solution for harder to treat homes.
Neil was followed by Wayne Timperley, Regulatory Specialist at Local Authority Building Control (LABC), who spoke about compliance with Building Regulations and the high standards set across the industry to provide reassurance for consumers.
Also speaking at the conference was Jonathan Kane, CEO of Kane International. He outlined the investment and development of new analysers for installers when testing combustion appliances. In particular, the focus on enhanced sensors for identifying carbon monoxide leaks which can potentially lead to significant or even fatal health problems.
Despite the advancement in AI and automated systems, Jonathan discussed how the role of an installer visiting a property would remain crucial in the years ahead.
Concluding the conference, Malcolm Farrow, head of public affairs at OFTEC, set out the political challenges facing the government. In particular, new Labour MPs representing rural seats campaigning for their constituents to have fairer heating choices. It follows recent controversies over changes to the winter fuel payments and growing pressure on the government to ensure rural communities are not overlooked in the net zero transition.
Malcolm also spoke about the Future Ready Fuel campaign which, in just one week, saw over 150 rural households download a letter to write to Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, calling for the government to formally support renewable liquid fuels.
Following the conference, OFTEC CEO Paul Rose commented: “As we approach the one year mark of this new Labour government, the liquid fuel heating sector has every reason to be optimistic. Whilst the government remains committed to electrification, which we support for suitable homes, there is a growing recognition that alternative solutions are needed for the hardest to treat properties, which includes many oil heated homes.
“We welcome the recent positive engagements with the government and the genuine interest in exploring other approaches. We were pleased to see at our conference all parts of our industry, from manufacturers, installers, training providers to fuel distributors come together with a shared ambition to both deliver net zero and provide practical and affordable solutions for off-grid households who want to adopt low carbon alternatives.
“We’re making good progress and we have everything lined up, ready to rollout renewable liquid fuels. We will continue to work positively with the government on this ambition.”
Photo caption: The OFTEC Board at the trade association’s 2025 conference