Heating

Over 49.2 million households and 137 million citizens live in rural areas in the EU that are often not connected to the gas grid.

These communities face specific challenges in their path towards decarbonisation: energy affordability and availability are particularly critical, due to generally lower incomes, reduced energy choices and poor insulation of buildings. How can we offer them a solution that meets their needs, while being cost-effective and reliable?

Liquid gases such as propane, butane, and dimethyl ether, particularly renewable equivalents, represent a lower-carbon and affordable heating solution, especially in rural, off-grid homes currently using more polluting options. They produce very low concentrations of particulate matters (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and soot, contributing to better ambient air quality.

The role of liquid gases

Switching from an oil boiler to a liquid gas one can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 55% when using LPG, and up to 83% when using renewable LPG. They also emit 80-99% less PM and 50-75% less NOx than solid and liquid fuels boilers (such as coal, heating oil, peat and biomass).

Consumers can then seamlessly switch to renewable liquid gases, such as bioLPG or renewable and recycled carbon DME, as they are a drop-in replacement for LPG, without the need for any changes in infrastructure.

by the numbers

Liquid Gases by
the Numbers.

%

  • Buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of our energy consumption 21.5% 21.5%

  • 137 million people live in rural areas, most of them not connected to the gas grid 19.6% 19.6%

%

  • 36% of the building stock in the EU was built before the first thermal regulations in the 1970s 40% 40%

%

  • Buildings in the EU are responsible for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions 19.6% 19.6%

To reach climate neutrality, we must harness all lower-carbon technologies and solutions

Liquid gases are a cost-effective lower-carbon alternative to heating with either coal or oil, and they offer significant advantages in terms of indoor and outdoor air quality.

For consumers, switching from LPG to renewable liquid gases requires no changes to the boiler or existing infrastructure.

Liquid Gas Europe advocates for:

  1. The proper implementation of legislation recognising fossil-free heating sources, including blends of renewable liquid gases.
  2. The replacement of the overwhelming number of single-family homes operating coal-fired heating systems with highly efficient (renewable) liquid gas appliances to improve the air quality of rural areas.
  3. A transition accessible for all by giving consumers the right to choose the most efficient and appropriate technologies for their specific needs.
  4. The roll-out of renewable liquid gases through a clear legislative framework recognising the strategic role of renewable liquid gases in heating.