Written by
Shaun Curtis
on 27 Jan 2023
and updated on
09 Jul 2025
Categorised in
Sustainability
Did you know there’s a greener way to fuel your heating oil home (or diesel car) without the large expense of heat pumps?
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a drop-in diesel alternative that’s beginning to make its way across the UK. It offers a cleaner, 100% renewable way to power your diesel car, or even your oil-fired boiler – without system changes that cost the earth.
In this article, we’ll break down how HVO compares to regular diesel, why off-grid homes should be interested and how you can take your first steps into HVO. First though, what exactly is HVO?
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, HVO for short, is a latest generation, renewable synthetic paraffinic diesel fuel made from waste fats and oils. Unlike traditional (FAME) biodiesel, it’s made by hydrotreatment, a process that introduces hydrogen to the fats to create hydrocarbons, which make up the fuel.
As a direct drop-in white diesel replacement, many businesses are already using HVO to power agricultural equipment, as well as generators and lorries.
HVO is produced through a process called hydrotreatment (often known as hydrogenation or hydrocracking). In this process, waste vegetable oils or animal fats are combined with hydrogen under high pressure and temperature, oxygen is removed and hydrocarbons are created.
The resulting hydrocarbons are converted into the fuel. The process of hydrogenation also removes impurities so that when burnt, HVO produces 90% less carbon emissions when compared with Kerosene28 (heating oil).
Being a renewable, fossil-free fuel, HVO has benefits that go beyond the obvious.
Derived from waste fats, HVO greatly cuts greenhouse gas emissions vs regular diesel, so it’s great for homes and businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.
Because HVO is made from vegetable fats, any oil spills are far less harmful to the environment, waterways and animals. This makes it much safer to both store and handle in bulk.
There is less particulate matter from burning HVO, lower NOx and soot content, delivering cleaner air and improving air quality. Plus, you don’t get that nasty diesel smell!
Compared to regular diesel and FAME biodiesel, HVO has much better cold-start performance for diesel engines and has reliable ignition right down to -30°C.
As well as being a direct drop-in replacement for white diesel, making it great for cars, generators and other machinery, it can be used as an alternative to traditional heating oil.
With heat pumps being out of reach for many people, when it comes to heating oil, those off-grid have limited options if they want to swich to a renewable heat source. HVO changes that.
For a few hundred pounds, households can have their existing oil-fired boiler upgraded to use HVO. If you’re in need of a new boiler, you can also purchase an HVO-ready boiler with BoilerJuice that can run on heating oil and HVO.
Back in 2023 George Eustice brought a bill to Parliament to enable the same fuel duty breaks as Kerosene on HVO when it is used for household heating systems. All of the benefits also apply to oil-fired boilers, and it is likely that eventually HVO will replace Kerosene for UK heating oil homes.
| Diesel | Heating oil (K28) | HVO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 emissions | High | High (similar to diesel) | Up to 90% lower than fossil diesel/heating oil |
| Renewable | No | No | Yes (produced from waste oils & fats) |
| Odour | Strong diesel smell | Noticeable oil smell | Virtually odourless |
| Toxicity | Toxic, harmful to environment | Toxic, harmful if spilled | Non-toxic, biodegradable |
| Storage | Needs secure tanks, stable | Similar storage as diesel | Similar storage, good stability |
| Energy output | ~45.5 MJ/kg (≈ 10.8–11.0 kWh/litre) | ~43 MJ/kg (≈ 10.3 kWh/litre) | ~44–45 MJ/kg (≈ 10.7 kWh/litre) |
| Cold weather | Can gel in very cold weather | Prone to waxing, needs additives | Better cold flow properties |
| Infrastructure | Established, widely available | Existing infrastructure (tanks, boilers) | Drop-in replacement, compatible with diesel systems |
| Cost | ~£1.40–£1.60 per litre (road diesel — red diesel may be lower for off-road use) | ~£0.60–£0.80 per litre (domestic bulk orders) | ~£1.20–£1.60 per litre (bulk off-road) — often 50–100% more than kerosene |
If you have a diesel car, or run generators on diesel at all, you can use HVO right away without any modifications.
HVO is especially for those environmentally conscious users that don’t mind paying a premium for their fuel, as it does tend to be more expensive per litre than traditional diesel.
As the adoption and general availability improves, it is expected that costs will fall closer to that of traditional heating oil, making it a viable option for heating oil users. Right now, as explained above, there are boiler upgrades required to run your home heating system on HVO.
Buying HVO right now can be a little tricky, but it is available at many fuel stations across the UK. If you’re not close to one, you can also purchase HVO FuelBox directly from BoilerJuice.
For heating oil users, we’re actively working with suppliers to enable bulk-delivery in the same way you currently buy heating oil.
You can find your nearest HVO fuel station using e-route’s handy tool, hit the “options” tab and select “HVO” to find HVO in your area. The network is constantly expanding, so keep your eyes peeled for updates.
If you want to try HVO on a home diesel generator, our handy HVO FuelBox allows you to buy only a small volume as a tester, delivered to your door. These easy-store bag-in-a-box are a great option for those without means for storing HVO in a fuel tank.
From £52 per 20L box
Whilst current adoption and availability are somewhat limiting factors right now. HVO does represent a viable renewable and non-fossil-fuel alternative to diesel, with heating oil replacement on the horizon.
Give HVO a try if you have a diesel car or run small machinery on diesel, costs are somewhat comparable and what you’re getting is a fuel that’s far better for the environment with potential efficiency gains.
When it comes to heating oil, there is a likely a little wait before it can become a full alternative for the off-grid masses, but of course, as soon as it is, we’ll keep you updated.
HVO has similar properties to conventional heating oil but it is renewable and 100% biodegradable. This makes it one of the best low-carbon alternative fuels for heating oil homes.
In short, yes, you will need to make changes to your oil boiler. However these modifications are quite straightforward. There are a few key considerations before deciding to upgrade your oil boiler to use HVO.
Here are the primary factors to keep in mind:
Remember, we always recommended consulting with a boiler engineer to determine the specific modifications needed to convert your boiler to HVO.
Prices for HVO boiler conversion can vary depending on the engineer, it can be as low as £2-300, but it can range from £500-£1000 depending on your boiler age, condition and model. We'd always recommend getting quotes from a number of engineers before deciding. This is far less than the £1000s to replace an entire heating system, making it a much more viable solution.
HVO compatible boilers
We're working hard to bring your home into the renewable without large-scale heating systems changes. We've teamed up with Sapphire, on their new HVO-ready oil boilers. They are the first Fully Modulating, OpenTherm Certified Boiler ready to run on either Kerosene or HVO. In the coming months, we'll bring installers on-board so you can be HVO ready with BoilerJuice. Find out more by visiting our shop.
The potential for hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to replace heating oil in the UK depends on several factors, mainly it's affordability for households and general market adoption along with availability.
There is a growing interest in transitioning to more sustainable and low-carbon heating solutions in the UK, driven by environmental concerns and the government's commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. As part of these efforts, the UK government has set targets to phase out high-carbon fossil fuels, in favour of cleaner alternatives.
HVO, as a renewable fuel with a lower carbon footprint, has the potential to play a role in meeting these objectives. It can be used as a drop-in replacement for heating oil, making it easier for consumers to transition with only minor modifications to their existing heating systems. It's worth noting that there are other renewable heating options gaining traction in the UK, such as heat pumps and biomass boilers, which also aim to replace traditional heating systems.
While HVO offers several significant advantages as a renewable and cleaner fuel option, it's difficult to predict whether it will replace heating oil entirely.
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) has gained traction from leaders in the liquid fuel industry in recent times, and with good reason. It could become the low-carbon heating oil alternative for off-grid homes.
Successful trials have demonstrated its benefit in 150 homes across the UK, significantly reducing carbon emissions by up to 88%. That's 88% fewer carbon emissions by simply replacing the fuel used. Of course there is a little more to it than dropping a new fuel in your oil tank. However the evidence is clear for it's potential within the heating oil industry.
OFTEC is urging the government to prioritise a consultation on a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation and address tax disparities that favour kerosene over renewable alternatives like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Industry research shows HVO can cut emissions significantly in off-grid homes with minimal system changes. OFTEC is also training technicians in hybrid and heat pump systems to support decarbonization goals, advocating for HVO boilers as a cost-effective option and a potential stepping stone toward broader electrification of heating solutions.
Following George Eustice's article on the Telegraph on the 2026 oil boiler ban, UKIFDA, the UK & Ireland Fuel Distribution Association have released a statement urging Government to support the proposed Energy Bill update.
Through the support of the influential Cornish conservative MP, George Eustice, the liquid fuel industry introduced the 10-minute rule bill in parliament on the 11th of January 2023, a second meeting was held on 3rd March. The bill sought to reduce the duty charged on renewable liquid heating fuel and to extend the same incentives given to transport when it is used as heating fuel, vital in making HVO an affordable alternative to heating oil. The bill was withdrawn on 18th September 2023.
