OFTEC have announced today (26 June) the successful completion of a four-year trial of a new environmentally friendly home heating biofuel in Killinchy, Northern Ireland.

The organisation hopes the new B30K home heating biofuel will now be supported by the Northern Ireland government in phase 2 of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The 100% renewable biofuel - mixed and stored by Emo in Belfast - is a kerosene-based fuel containing 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), which can be sourced from animal fat or vegetable oil from plants.

OFTEC and heating oil company Emo celebrated the success of the new biofuel trial at a NI Housing Executive bungalow in Killinchy, home to Mrs Lauren McCormick and her family.

The trial of the new biofuel started in Mrs McCormick's home in March 2011 and over the four year period the CO₂ emissions from this property have reduced by 2.5 tonnes by using B30K instead of 100% kerosene.

With the right support from government, OFTEC believes the biofuel has the potential to reduce the overall carbon footprint of Northern Ireland, where over 60% of all homes currently use heating oil as their primary heating source. The organisation has reiterated its call on Energy Minsister Arlene Foster to include the new home heating oil in the domestic RHI plans.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland's manager said: “We are delighted with the success in Killinchy and the potential overall of this new biofuel which has been developed by the home heating oil industry to help reduce our CO₂ footprint. Inclusion of bioliquids like B30K in the domestic RHI would be a great step forward for Northern Ireland”