Liquid Gas UK: Net Zero Must Work for All

Liquid Gas UK has responded to new survey findings by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), which highlights the high cost of installing heat pumps remain a major barrier for most UK households.

The trade association, whose members supply LPG and renewable liquid gases across the UK, is calling for a more inclusive, mixed-technology approach to decarbonising heat, particularly in rural and off-grid areas, warning that the current strategy risks leaving millions behind in the transition to net zero.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by the EUA, reveals that just 4% of respondents would be willing to pay more than £5,000 for a heat pump, despite average installation costs exceeding £13,000 according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). A further 38% said they wouldn’t be willing to pay anything at all for a low-carbon heating system.

George Webb, CEO of Liquid Gas UK says the findings echo longstanding concerns about the need for a diverse range of practical low-carbon heating solutions to address the unique challenges faced by rural and off-grid homeowners.

“Despite biofuels being mentioned in the government’s Biomass Strategy, heat pumps remain the government's preferred route to net zero, but they’re not viable for everyone, especially older rural properties with poor insulation, solid wall construction, and limited electricity grid capacity,” said Mr Webb.

"For these homes, we need a balanced approach, one that includes renewable liquid gases, which provide more flexibility for homeowners to decarbonise their current heating systems,” he added.

Produced from sustainable sources including agricultural residues, municipal waste and captured CO?, renewable liquid gases such as bioLPG and rDME, offer up to 90% emissions savings compared to conventional LPG and heating oil [i].

“Crucially, these gases are a ‘drop-in’ solution. They work with existing boilers and infrastructure, avoiding the need for costly retrofits and saving households up to £2,000 a year in running costs compared to heat pumps [ii],” explained Mr Webb.

Liquid Gas UK’s own polling reflects the public appetite for such options. Among over 2,500 rural households surveyed, 76% said they would support a policy that allows them to keep their existing boilers if they could switch to renewable fuels. Aligned with this, the EUA’s survey also found 60% of respondents want to retain access to both gas and electricity in their homes.

“Net zero won’t be achieved with a one-size-fits-all mentality, and government must support rural communities that face the steepest barriers,” said Mr Webb. 

“Our industry is committed to the net zero journey, helping hard to abate homes and businesses decarbonise in a way which works for them, with significant investment already underway to support this transition,” he added.

[i] WPLGA. 2020. The role of LPG and bioLPG in Europe. Available at: https://www.worldliquidgas. org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/LPG-bioLPG-FAQ.pdf

[ii] Liquid Gas UK (2025) Journey to 2050, available at: https://www.liquidgasuk.org/uploads/DOC6731E0CED6BBA.pdf#page7