Liquid Gas Ireland (LGI) has welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications' consultation on the design of the Renewable Heat Obligation published in August 2023. The Irish Government has agreed to the introduction of an Obligation in the Heat Sector by 2024. This Obligation will incentivise suppliers of certain fuels in the heat sector to ensure a proportion of the fuel they supply is renewable.
LGI supports the proposal for a Renewable Heat Obligation and welcomes the recognition of Renewable LPG as a renewable fuel. Placing a focus on the decarbonisation of Ireland’s heating sector by aligning the Renewable Heat Obligation with Ireland’s current climate ambitions, as laid out in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan, will better help Ireland achieve its targets.
LGI argues that alongside the Obligation, the Government should actively support an environment that allows customers in rural off-grid homes and businesses a choice in reducing their carbon emissions. We have argued in our paper, Making the ‘Just Transition’ more sustainable for rural Ireland, that supporting the increased use of lower carbon LPG, Renewable LPG and in time rDME offers a very effective decarbonisation pathway for consumers who traditionally rely on high carbon fossil fuels like oil and solid fuels for energy.
The Government should support the transition away from oil heating for all consumers, especially industry in adopting a ‘mixed technology’ approach. The current ‘one size fits all’ approach, which prioritises the installation of heat pumps, is straightjacketing the options open to consumers in rural areas seeking to decarbonise. While the environmental impact of heat pumps is obvious, a sole focus on this alone is blunt an instrument. The merits of supporting the installation of a renewable ready gas boiler, in terms of cost and environmental impact are compelling as we have set out in our study.
You can read the full response here.
