Fuel Oil News February 2019 | Page 3

One heating option is not the answer “Renewables certainly have a role to play in the UK’s energy future, however this role is largely confined to applications where you have control over the entire fabric of the house and the heating system within it,” said Neil Schofield, head of government affairs at Worcester Bosch who also pointed out that without improvements, renewables would not work in 90% of existing homes. At the end of December, FPS and OFTEC put out a joint statement on the government’s response to the call for evidence on the future framework for heat in buildings. See Fuel Oil News website: https://bit.ly/2RrV99n. Whilst ‘a wide range of responses’ were received, the government’s conclusion as to the way forward still focuses on ‘the electrification of heat using heat pumps’, a decision which may have been informed by a recent study undertaken for government which estimated that just 15% of off gas grid homes would not be suitable for electric heating. A fact which is at odds with Claire Perry’s statement to the House of Commons last October where only 3% of oil heated homes in GB were compatible with heat pumps! Speaking collectively the two trade organisations said: “It is a mistake to focus so much on electric solutions which offer a high cost/low efficiency solution’. This is particularly so with respect to the social implications; a report by the Committee on Fuel Poverty highlighted that 116,000 fuel poor households would need financial assistance to use heat pumps. Relaxing its stance on electrification, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), a strong advocate for heat pumps, has said recently that potentially hydrogen has a valuable role to play… Behind the scenes many organisations are seeking more sensible solutions. For those involved in the UK’s domestic heat market, it has long been clear that an overdependence on one technology is not the answer. The 2018 Fuel Oil News tanker of the year – Silvey Fuels – manufactured by Tasca Tankers. See page 14. The independent voice for the fuel distribution, storage and marketing industry in the UK and Ireland. 4-5,7 NEWS An effective voice, People Moves, fuelled by Gulf Aviation and ‘huge changes facing the oil market’ 9 TOP 20 FUEL OIL DISTRIBUTORS: UK mainland 11-12 CONFERENCE REPORT FTA Transport Manager 13 PORTLAND MARKET REPORT With Donald Trump in power, anything can happen! 14-19 TANKERS 2019 Featuring the Fuel Oil News 2018 tanker of the year 21-22 IN CONVERSATION Suttons Group 23-24 INSIDE OUT Transport fuels 25 ANALYSIS Highs and lows in 2018’s oil market 26 PRICING PAGE Contact us 01565 653283 www.fueloilnews.co.uk Founded in 1977 by James Smith Managing director Nick Smith News desk / Editor Jane Raphael [email protected] Irish News Aine Faherty [email protected] Subscriptions Berni Chetham [email protected] Accounts & copy chasing Berni Chetham [email protected] Annual subscription for the UK & Republic of Ireland is priced at £98 or €113 inc. p&p. Overseas: £115 or €134. Back issues: £8 per copy. Commercial manager Margaret Major [email protected] Credit card payments 01565 653283 THE 2018 DIRECTORY Replacing equipment in 2019? Check out the Fuel Oil News Directory Published by Ashley & Dumville Publishing, Caledonian House, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG 2018 D I REC TO RY M A B AV I S I O N I A COPY IS OF THE 2019 O T TERMINALS AND A STORAGE S MAP ON M YOUR WALL? Y $FFHVV\RXUWUDGLQJDFFRXQW RQOLQHIRUTXLFNDQGWUDQVSDUHQW GHDODGPLQLVWUDWLRQ 01565 653283 www.fueloilnews.co.uk/category/directory /di Volume 42 No 2 ISSN 1757-1057 www.oilterminalmap.co.uk Fuel Oil News | February 2019 3