One-size-fits-all approach to low-carbon heating won’t work for rural homes, warns Liquid Gas UK

Liquid Gas UK has called for a diverse range of practical low-carbon heating solutions to address the unique challenges faced by rural and off-grid homeowners. The call follows new survey findings by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), which highlight that the high cost of installing heat pumps remains a major barrier for most UK households. 

The trade association is urging 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. 

“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 George Webb, CEO, Liquid Gas UK. 

“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. 

“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 pumpsi,” explained Webb. 

Liquid Gas UK’s own polling of over 2,500 rural households reflects the public appetite for such options: 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 Webb.