The role of renewable liquid gases in the fight to reach net-zero
Sophia Haywood, Head of Advocacy and Communications
| Dimeta
As the world transitions to sustainable energy solutions to combat climate change, Sophia Haywood, Director of Advocacy and Communications at Dimeta, calls for the government to embrace a multiple energy solution to help the United Kingdom achieve its net-zero goals
At the time of writing, the general election campaign is in full swing. Yet the question of how the UK practically transitions to net-zero has barely been figured out thus far. It remains to be seen whether this critical debate will come to the fore as polling day draws closer.
One thing is certain: whoever becomes Prime Minister, and whatever their political persuasion, maintaining the UK’s strong progress towards decarbonisation will be a necessary strategic priority. Readers will now know the identity and composition of the new government. What can the incoming Secretary of State expect to find in their in-tray, and how should we assess the options that lie ahead of us?
First, the sheer complexity of delivering on net-zero in double-quick time will require the new government to consider the widest possible range of solutions available. At Dimeta, a pioneering renewable fuel producer exploring opportunities for facilities in the UK, European Union and United States, we believe that clean-burning renewable fuels such as renewable and recycled carbon dimethyl-ether (DME) must form part of the UK’s response to this generation-defining question. Decarbonising off-grid homes and businesses and hard-to-electrify applications will be central to delivering an affordable transition. Renewable fuels can help to get us there.
However, the market for renewable fuels in the UK is not without its challenges. While producers of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) have benefitted from government support and a growing media profile, the lack of incentives for wider fuel producers to invest in the UK is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention.
Dimeta has called for the urgent development of a sustainable taxonomy to drive investor confidence in the wide range of solutions which, together, will be needed to get the UK to net-zero. We trust that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will drive this forward over the weeks and months ahead.
If the new government wants to deliver on its ambition to transform the UK into a clean energy superpower, releasing the outstanding consultation on the use of bioenergy off the gas grid and exploring the powers laid out in the Energy Bill to consider an obligation scheme on the off-grid heating sector would be a great place to start.
“Dimeta has called for the urgent development of a sustainable taxonomy to drive investor confidence in the wide range of solutions which, together, will be needed to get the UK to net-zero”
While the phase-out date for replacing fossil fuel boilers off the gas grid has been pushed back from 2026 to 2035, giving policy certainty for renewable fuels off the gas grid in the short term and in turn, developing a policy framework which includes a mix of ‘carrot and stick’, we can help accelerate the business case for renewable liquid gas production. This would create jobs, contribute to the local economy and, most importantly, provide a solution to hard-to-electrify buildings, industries and processes.
As if that wasn’t enough, ministers will also face a significant and growing waste problem, with tens of millions of tonnes of municipal solid waste generated in the UK each year. Converting non-recyclable, residual waste into renewable molecules such as SAF or DME – which can support hard-to-abate sectors − should be encouraged and supported as a key component of making the circular economy a reality. As part of this, Dimeta will be calling on the new government to commit to a review of the UK’s waste hierarchy and ensure waste-to-fuels processes are not included in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, to avoid unnecessary additional costs for end consumers.
This only scratches the surface of the mammoth task ahead for the new government as we pursue the path to net-zero. A mixed-technology approach that includes renewable liquid gases − sustainable, adaptable, and safe – is essential if we are to reach our destination.
This article was originally published in The Path To Net Zero supplement circulated alongside The House magazine. To find out more visit The Path To Net Zero hub.
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