Good candidate
Your boiler is HVO-compatible or a technician will certify the conversion, and a local oil supplier can deliver a verified product.
Guides
Lower-carbon heating oil option
HVO heating oil in Ireland: what to check before you switch.
HVO is a lower-carbon liquid fuel that suits some oil-heated homes. Whether it suits yours depends on the boiler, local supply, where the fuel came from, and the premium over kerosene.
HVO readiness checklist
Ask your boiler technician or manufacturer whether the burner, seals, hose and tank suit HVO.
Check that the oil supplier delivers HVO for home heating as well as transport or commercial use.
Ask for evidence that the fuel comes from a sustainable waste-derived source.
Weigh availability and price premium against kerosene before you commit.
What HVO is
HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. It is sold as a renewable liquid fuel that can reduce lifecycle emissions when made from verified waste or residual feedstocks. The sustainability claim depends on where the fuel came from and how it was certified.
Some newer oil boiler ranges are marketed as HVO-compatible after alterations. Even then, a qualified technician should check boiler compatibility: the burner setup, seals, flexible hose, tank condition and manufacturer guidance all matter.
Check carefully
An older boiler, unknown tank fittings, or an oil supplier who can't confirm the fuel's source and specification.
Probably not yet
No local oil supplier delivers HVO reliably, or the premium would leave you short of fuel for the season.
Questions to ask before paying a premium
- Is the quoted HVO suitable for domestic heating equipment, and what specification does it meet?
- Can the oil supplier show the feedstock and sustainability evidence?
- Can they deliver whenever you need a refill, or is this a one-off local trial?
- What is the premium over kerosene today, in euro, on 500 or 1,000 litres?