29 Jan 2024
Dimeta’s policy manifesto: Getting warmer. The journey towards decarbonised rural homes
Dimeta’s manifesto calls for European policymakers to recognise the role of renewable liquid gases (such as renewable and recycled carbon DME) in decarbonising the off-grid sector during the next European Parliament elections.
For the next five years, decision-makers should gaze beyond the political chessboard and consider the unique needs and diverse geographical circumstances that make up our vibrant European landscape.
Rural areas face increasing costs in the climate transition and unique challenges. Current EU heat decarbonisation policies, mostly focusing on electrification as a universal solution, disproportionately impact rural populations. In the current political context, we have seen the voices of the 137 million European rural residents growing in influence and having an impact on national elections and foreseeably in European Parliament elections and the subsequent European Commission mandate.
Given that more than 22% of the European rural population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion2, policymakers need to avoid adding extra burdens to their cost of living.
Most of the 68 million gas boilers3 in residential buildings within the EU are primarily located in off-grid areas4. The replacement of these boilers with alternative options may entail substantial expenses. For example, the installation cost of an electric heat pump can be up to three times higher than that of a conventional boiler5.
Alternative solutions exist without replacing the existing appliances. Boilers currently using liquid gases (such as LPG) can switch immediately to renewable fuels like renewable and recycled carbon DME, which is low-carbon, affordable, and highly versatile regarding feedstock input.
Renewable and recycled carbon DME provides up to 85% greenhouse gas emission reduction compared to diesel and heating oil, and with the use of carbon capture for DME produced from biomass, it potentially offers negative emissions.
Significant incentives are established to produce such fuels for use in the transport sector, but not in the heating sector, where policy support is essential to ensure inclusive participation in the transition to net zero. In this sense, a mixed-technology approach is vital for affordable decarbonisation.
Therefore, in our policy manifesto for next European elections, we call on European policymakers to recognise the role of renewable liquid gases (such as renewable and recycled carbon DME) in decarbonising the off-grid consumers during the next European Parliament and Commission mandates.
