Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if hydrotreated vegetable oil for home heating will be approved for consumer use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a bioliquid which can be used as a renewable energy and which, in a transport context, is classified as a biofuel. HVO is currently available for consumers to purchase for use for both transport and heating.

In terms of using HVO as a bioliquid for heating purposes, the Climate Action Plan includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuels in heating systems in buildings, and the National Heat Study contains the detailed analysis that is informing the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050. The study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwellings and business premises. This included the use of liquid biofuels such as HVO, solid biomass, biogases and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks. The recommendation of the heat study is that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for heating systems, with district heating also being an option that can be widely deployed.

As part of the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings decision S180/20/10/2704, Government agreed to the introduction of an obligation in the heat sector. The Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) will stimulate demand for, and increase the use of, renewable fuels in the heating sector by obligating suppliers of fossil fuels used for heat, to ensure a proportion of the energy they supply is from a renewable source.

Under current proposals, all renewable fuels used for heat that satisfy the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive will be considered eligible for certification under the RHO. When implemented, the RHO will be kept under review to ensure consistency with wider heat policy. Following extensive stakeholder consultation, finalisation of a draft high-level scheme is nearing completion, including engagement with the European Commission. Once it is ready, I intend to bring to Government for approval to publish.