Last week, Camborne and Redruth MP George Eustice visited a Cornish to see properties that have converted to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

George Eustice MP met with village residents in Kehelland and industry leaders to find out more about the trial, which is being run by local fuel distributor Mitchell & Webber as part of a National Demonstration project together with UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) and Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC).

Falmouth Packet: Kehelland primary school headteacher Ellie Watkins talks to George Eustice MP about how the school is decarbonising its heating with HVO. Kehelland primary school headteacher Ellie Watkins talks to George Eustice MP about how the school is decarbonising its heating with HVO. (Image: Supplied)

Speaking at the event at Kehelland School - a 130-year-old building that has already been converted to run on HVO.

Mitchell & Webber’s Director John Weedon said: “Kehelland is unique as it has the most boilers converted to HVO in the UK, so we’re delighted that George Eustice MP is here to see first-hand how quick and easy an HVO conversion is, and how much impact it can have in the fight against climate change.”

HVO is said to be made from certified waste fats and oils and reduces carbon emissions by up to 88 percent.  

Eustice said: “It was great to visit Kehelland Village recently to hear about how Mitchell & Webber’s new fuel is helping families to heat their homes.

Falmouth Packet: Left to right: Mitchell & Webber Director Robert Weedon with Ken Cronin, CEO of UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA), George Eustice MP, and John Weedon, also Director of Mitchell & Webber. Left to right: Mitchell & Webber Director Robert Weedon with Ken Cronin, CEO of UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA), George Eustice MP, and John Weedon, also Director of Mitchell & Webber. (Image: Supplied)

“It is vital that we look to new, greener technologies to heat our homes if we are going to be able to stay on track to hit net-zero by 2050, but this is a challenge in rural areas, which often rely on oil boilers.

“Finding a way to allow them to convert their boilers at reasonable cost to a fuel with a lower carbon footprint may well be part of the solution in the medium term. So I’m very pleased to see that my constituency is leading the way with this nationally-leading trial of HVO.”

John Weedon, Director at Mitchell & Webber, said “The rigorous testing we’re doing as part of this trial is gaining evidence that demonstrates the viability of HVO as a fossil-fuel free alternative to oil.

“Thousands of our customers across Cornwall and the South West will have to change their oil-fired heating systems in the not-too-distant future, and that’s why we’re doing this industry-funded trial - because we want to show the UK government evidence that HVO is a simple solution that is both effective and affordable for our communities.”

Falmouth Packet: George Eustice MP visits the home of Kehelland resident Dave Biggs, who explains how Mitchell & Webber converted his boiler from standard heating oil to HVO. George Eustice MP visits the home of Kehelland resident Dave Biggs, who explains how Mitchell & Webber converted his boiler from standard heating oil to HVO. (Image: Supplied)

Ellie Watkins, headteacher of Kehlland said “Because of our school’s age and construction, we just weren’t going to be able to make the insulation changes needed for other low-carbon heating systems to be effective - both from a cost and disruption perspective.

“So, when Mitchell & Webber alerted us to this opportunity, we signed up immediately. They’ve supported us every step of the way and we’re really pleased to be able to push on with decarbonising our building.”

Mitchell and Webber are participating in the HVO demonstration in partnership with trade associations OFTEC and UKIFDA, as part of the Future Ready Fuel campaign. The industry is self-funding the project.