FAQs Archives - NWF Fuels

Gas Oil Duty Changes

In March 2021, the UK Government announced gas oil duty changes, which mean that as of the 1^st April 2022 the rules on the tax relief of red diesel are changing.

The revision to the current taxation means that many sectors that use red diesel will no longer receive tax relief and will be required to switch to an alternative fuel such as white diesel (DERV), or a greener product in HVO30. Organisations previously using red diesel for commercial heating will also have the option of Prem35.

What is changing with the gas oil duty changes?

As of the 1st April 2022, many sectors will now need to use an alternative to red diesel, as they are now being forced to use a different fuel that is taxed at the standard rate for white diesel.

The laws are changing as part of the UK Governments push to achieve a net zero emissions target by 2050. The changes are to encourage the development and usage of cleaner, more sustainable fuels and while this is a positive environmental step it does present a challenge to a wide range of sectors and businesses.

Many businesses may have assessed their usage and planned their transition to an alternative following the gas oil duty changes, but we are aware that there are others that are unsure of whether they remain exempt or not and what the financial implications are to their business in having to switch from red to white diesel.

Who will be affected by the changes?

We here to help shed light on some of the grey areas surrounding the upcoming changes. If you currently use red diesel in machinery, generators or for heating purposes in the following sectors you will be affected by the changes.

Construction, mining, and quarrying
Manufacturing
Plant hire, transportation/ logistics, waste management
Highway maintenance
Airport activities
Ports and harbor activities

From the 1^st April 2022 we will only be able to supply red diesel to your business if that application is for the sole purpose of the following

Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and fishing
Flood and snow clearance including gritters
Propulsion of passenger, freight, and maintenance vehicles on rails
Propulsion of commercial boats including passenger ferries and water freight
The powering of machinery (including caravans) of travelling fairs and circuses
Non-commercial heating in homes, places of worship, NHS hospitals, townhalls and permanently moored houseboats
Amateur sports clubs and community sports centres, golf courses (including activities such as ground maintenance, and the heating and lighting of clubhouses, changing rooms etc.)

Over the upcoming weeks and months will be publishing more information on the changes but for a full list of sectors and exemptions of use for red diesel you can check on the Gov.uk website or check with HMRC to confirm your exemption status.

Changing to an alternative – what does that mean?

Red diesel is currently used by a number of industries in machinery and equipment, and it makes up for around 15% of the diesel that is used in the UK. However, users currently only have to pay 11.14p per litre as a duty rate in contrast to the 57.95 ppl for white diesel. This means that these sectors are going to miss out on making a saving of 81% when they make the switch. For those sectors that are going to need to make the switch to white diesel then they are clearly going to miss out on savings.

Failing to comply with the regulatory changes can result in heavy fines. It is therefore recommended that your business starts to plan for the transition if you are going to be affected. Here a just a few things to consider:

If you stock red diesel for an application that will be affected by the changes you will need to run the stock down before the 1st April deadline. There is no grace period after this date.
Retain proof of purchase for red diesel to prove that you have not stockpiled red diesel for the intended use after the 1st April
You may require an additional tank to store white diesel and avoid cross contamination of red and white diesel products
If you intend to use the same tank for storing white diesel that once held red diesel, you may be required to flush the tank and supply lines before the 1st April
Check the condition and security of your tanks. Many businesses are targeted for their fuel and fuel theft is expected to increase as more switch from red to white products.
Fuel usage and efficiency can be monitored by using a telemetry device. We can provide the latest radar unit technology to monitor tank levels and set up alerts when running low. This can also help alert you of leaks or theft too

We do offer and can assist in the clearing of tanks and lines if this is something you feel you may need assistance with.

What are the alternatives following the gas oil duty change?

Once you have assessed whether your business will be affected now is the time to start planning the switch to an alternative. We have a wide range of products that are suitable replacements:

Standard White Diesel (Derv)
HVO30 – A blended drop-in replacement consisting of 30% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and white diesel offering a cleaner alternative
Prem35 – an efficient replacement fuel for commercial heating applications in boilers or burners. Prem35 is a cost-effective alternative

Please call your local depot and speak to one of our experts for more information on any of the alternative products. We are here to help you and your business manage the transition if required.

More information

Gov UK – Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-of-red-diesel-entitlements/reform-of-red-diesel-and-other-rebated-fuels-entitlement

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Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)
FAQS – Kerosene

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)

In the modern world, fuel has been vital to driving change and advancement universally. Today that advancement is driving the improvement of more sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels.

What are the advantages of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)?

– Reduced CO2 emanations

– Fully sustainable

– Cleaner consume, lessening carbon develop in boilers

– Minor adjustments to your current heater

Will I have to change my boiler for HVO?

HVO is a great substitution for Diesel, as well as Kerosene, and depending on the type of boiler you have, you may not need to make any changes at all to use HVO. The more modern your boiler is, the more likely it is that it will compatible with HVO with a couple of simple modifications. Some newer boilers have the ability to consume HVO without any requiring any alterations at all.

HVO fuel – What is it?

Known as Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) or basically, sustainable diesel, HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils) are a much better for the climate and motors than mineral diesel. HVO is a great alternative for a range of applications that have environmental impact.

What does it contain?

Both HEFA and HVO contain high cetane numbers and can be portrayed as chain paraffinic hydrocarbons. These segments are sulfur, aromatics and oxygen free and have some huge benefits over Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) which empower them to be utilised in aviation, agriculture, transport, marine and a range of other applications.

How is it be produced?

Biofuel types, for example, HVO can be produced in different ways. The most common to produce HVO is through refining residue and waste materials, typically cooking oils, to remove impurities and to produce a high quality fuel.

How is HVO commonly used?

HVO can be used in generators, agricultural machinery, construction, marine, transport and a range of other applications.

Could my vehicle run on HVO fuel?

HVO meets the fuel specification EN15940 which guarantees that it can be used in all applications that require fuel to that standard. HVO is being used more and more in commercial applications, with many vehicles that are part of large multinational fast-food chains currently running on the fuel.

Companies that have endorsed HVO for their vehicles include; DAF, Scania, MAN, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Iveco, Peugeot, Citroen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, John Deere, Caterpillar, Scania, Agco and Steyr.

HVO news

The future of HVO is bright

Got any questions?

Priority Club: Heating oil smart monitor

Join our club and get a free heating oil smart monitor

We all live in a fast-paced world and much of our lives is automated, providing efficiency, peace of mind and simplicity. When it comes to heating oil, it’s something that you take for granted but when it runs out, you soon realise how much you rely on it. Whether it’s in a domestic setting, a commercial setting, agricultural or retail, when you run out of heating oil, you soon understand the problems that you face but this doesn’t have to be the case with a free heating oil smart monitor.

How Can You Avoid Running Out Of Heating Oil?

We invest in technology that improves and enhances the way that people use oil. We understand that running out of oil is an inconvenience but we believe that making life simple is key.

Running out of heating oil during the dark depths of winter, or in fact, at any time of year can be upsetting. With our priority account, you can change all of that. Through a priority account, you can transform how you use oil with an Oil Fox tank monitor. It gives you the ability to remotely check your tank levels and it removes the need for active management, similar to being on main gas, as we take care of topping up your tank when it needs it.

Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that your system can keep up with demand. Without oil, it cannot do that but that’s where we are on hand to ensure that we continue to keep you well-supplied with oil when you need it. An oil tank monitor allows you and us to accurately and efficiently monitor your tank levels without the need to look at your tank. We never want customers to run out and that’s why our priority account is designed to help meet demand, allowing us to efficiency schedule oil drops when we’re in the area.

OilFox heating oil tank smart monitors can connect to both mobile signal towers and WiFi to ensure that daily usage readings are sent to your app. The app can then provide you with an overview of you current tank level and consumption rate over time. To ensure that your OilFox unit remains active, there is a requirement for an on-going data subscription. This is similar in many ways to data subscription charges for mobile phones, however the cost is significant lower, at just 20p per day which equates to £6 per month. This cost is factored into your monthly direct debit arrangement, so there is no need to make any additional payment to us and your direct debit covers the cost of your fuel throughout the year along with the data connectivity charge.

Managing oil levels

If you have been managing your oils levels yourself then you’re probably aware of how important it is to keep on top of them. We have a team of experts and the right technology that works to identify when your levels are running low. An oil tank sensor enables you to take a hands-off approach, and that means that you will never run out of fuel again.

Smart monitors are a technology of the future but we believe that our customers have the right to adopt this technology today. What’s more, our priority account offers you much more than just our Oil Fox smart oil monitor. You will benefit from oil when you need it but you can also benefit from cost savings because due to efficient routing with Eco deliveries. Overall, the future of monitoring your oil levels is changing and we’re there leading from the front.

Take the hassle out of ordering heating oil

If you are someone who actively monitors your own oil tank levels then there is every chance that you have been faced with situations where you have either run out or come close. This is a situation that can be avoided with ease because an oil tank monitor can transform the way you manage your oil levels.

Using state of the art technology, we will remotely monitor your fuel tank level. We’ll set up alerts to our depots when your level is getting low, allowing us to route a load to your tank when it’s required.

How’s does it work?

Join our priority club, just fill out a quick form
Get a FREE smart monitor for your oil tank
Once activated, download the app to your smart phone
Get piece of mind that we’re monitoring your tank and will re-fill it before you run out

Get a free smart monitor

As well as having the guarantee to never be left without oil in your tank, when you sign up to the priority club, you will receive a free tank telemetry unit, worth over £180. The unit will be professionally installed by our in house installation team, meaning you have the peace of mind your device is set up correctly.

To make payments simple, you pay for your fuel with direct debit payments and have access to your digital consumption chart, through the use of the mobile phone app.

Priority club cost savings

Not only do you get all of these great benefits, but you will also get the cost savings passed onto you directly, through our Eco deliveries, avoiding demand inflated or surge pricing.

More about Oil Fox

Have a question that you can’t see the answer for? Contact us and let us know.

Premium fuels

Are Premium fuels worth it?

Most home heating fuels are refined from crude oil and their characteristics vary during the refining process which create impurities. Premium fuels help eliminate such impurities but do not alter your home heating oil’s chemical properties.

By removing the impurities, premium fuels can improve the efficiency of a system and can be very cost effective over the long term. Premium fuels often contain a range of active ingredients that help to maintain healthy performance and prevent negative processes such as sludge build up or corrosion. Using premium fuels, as with regular servicing, can increase the lifespan of boilers, engines and combustion systems, so the key to understanding the value of the premium fuels is to look at both long term efficiency performance and the increase in longevity of the mechanism.

Introducing Premier Pure Premium Fuel

This is domestic kerosene that is used for heating purposes. Usually, it is fragranced for those that live in environments that are sensitive to fuel scents. Premier Pure has been made to make sure that homes get the top quality premium kerosene that serves them well.

About Premier Pure

Premier Pure premium fuel is known to lower to amount of carbon emissions
It is effective oil in preventing the formation of sludge in the heating boilers
While using Premier Pure premium fuel, your boiler will be protected against problems that require frequent repairs
Most fuels lead to the build-up of deposits, especially around the heat exchanger surfaces and around the nozzles. However, with Premier Pure premium fuel, the deposits will not build up in the same way
This type of oil is known to improve the efficiency of the operating systems
Premier Pure premium oil can improve the lifespan of your heating system. It is made in a way that boosts thermal efficiency and cuts down on soot and carbon in your tanks
Premier Pure used alongside a blend of fuel stabilisers, chemicals, and lubricants will reduce wear and tear and ensure your system will last longer

What are the key Premier Pure premium fuel components?

The following are the main components of Premier Pure premium fuels:

Detergents
Dispersants
Metal deactivators
Anti-oxidants
Corrosion inhibitors

The fuel stabilisers and dispersants are very crucial components in the oil. The fuel stabiliser helps in inhibiting the formation of deposits when the fuel is heating up. The dispersants make sure that the tiny deposits are formed to exit through the nozzle and are completely burnt. Thus, these two powerful additives combined ensure that deposits won’t build up on the heat exchanger surfaces or even the nozzles.

The metal deactivator is used to cut down on fuel degradation, which is usually caused by metal interaction in the fuel system. The lining of the heating systems is often lined with copper, making the oil darken and degrade when both come into contact.

Corrosion inhibitor is purposely created to prevent wear and tear that may form in the heating systems. Thus, with Premier Pure, your heating system will have fewer rust deposits, and the metals will last longer.

The detergents used give the fuel a fresh smell when burnt.

Benefits of Premier Pure

Premier Pure is domestic kerosene available with added fragrances that give a fresh smell in environments sensitive to foul odours from fuels.
Lower carbon emissions. Premier Pure burns at 95 percent or more efficiently thus limiting the amount of carbon that is released to the environment.
Premier Pure increases the shelf life since the fuel does not degrade.
Since the system does not rust, you do not have to replace its parts regularly. Thus, by using Premier Pure service problems are reduced and the heating system serves you better and for a longer time.

Everything you need to know about boilers

A boiler system is purposely designed to heat the water inside a tank that supplies it hot through pipes. The boiler can also supply steam from the boiled water via pipes and radiators to release warmth. Most boiler systems in a residential setting are hot water heating systems. During the cold months of winter, both the hot water and steam producing boilers are excellent hearing systems to supply you with warmth.

Typically, a boiler sits on a burner and the burner burns fuel to release heat. Many boilers use natural gas, which is usually piped to the homes directly. However, often in rural area, natural gas lines do not serve most of the residences and so oil boilers are common.

Evaluating different types of boiler systems

There are three main types of boilers, system, heat only and combi. System boilers produce hot water for a storage cylinder which is used to for central heating. System boilers, unlike conventional boilers, take water in via a direct supply from the mains. A heat only boiler, also known as a regular or conventional boiler, usually has two tanks, a hot water cylinder and the actual boiler, situated in an elevated space such as a loft.

The third type of boiler, a combination or combi boiler, is supplied directly from the water mains. This means that you won’t need a hot water storage cylinder or a water storage tank as with other systems. When you use the hot water tap with a combi boiler, the gas burner is ignited and a heat exchanger transfers the energy to the water, which allows hot water to be generated almost instantly.

One of the key considerations when purchasing a boiler system is the system’s operating efficiency. The level of efficiency of your heating system will depend on the percentage of fuel that is used to create heat. Thus, a more efficient heating system translates to more savings on heating costs.

While evaluating a heating system’s efficiency, there are two common types, standard systems and high efficiency systems. Standard boiler systems are less energy efficient, usually operating at around 84 percent of maximum in efficiency levels. Standard boilers are also less costly in terms of upfront costs compared to high efficiency systems. High efficiency boiler systems are classed as having an efficiency that is more than 90 percent.

Still want more? For more information about the different types of boilers we recommend the Which? article “What are the different types of boiler?”

What makes a boiler high efficient?

A boiler works by heating water, conducting the hot water through pipework, radiators, radiant floors systems, or a coil. However, what makes some boilers high efficiency is that they trap any heat that tries to escape back into the system. In contrast a standard efficiency boiler allows the heat to be lost in the process of conducting.

Looking for a premium fuel delivery?

Get a quote for premium fuel

FAQs – Kerosene

What is Kerosene?

Kerosene is an extremely well known and popular fuel. It is a flammable hydrocarbon, an element consisting of Carbon (C) and Hydrogen (H), that has been used for centuries around the world. Kerosene and other hydrocarbons are obtained from crude oil by a process known as fractional distillation.

Fractional distillation is used to produce the fuel on an industrial scale by distilling crude oil in a process similar to that used to produce diesel or petrol.

What is it used for?

Kerosene is extremely popular in aviation, both as jet fuel and rocket fuel, as the fuel meets specifications for the temperature it remains a liquid at before freezing, the speed and efficiency with which it burns and it’s relatively high flash point, the temperature at which it ignites.

When was Kerosene discovered?

Inventor Abraham Gesner trademarked the term Kerosene in 1854 but the history of heating oil goes back much further. There is plenty of evidence that as far back as 1500 BC the Chinese were using heating oil for lamps.

What are the other common names for Kerosene?

As you might expect from a fuel that’s been around since at least the 9th century, home heating oil has plenty of other names. It is commonly referred to as:

Boiler Juice
Burning Oil
28 Second Heating Oil
Industrial Paraffin
C2 Kero
Standard Kero

How widely is burning oil used in the UK?

There are approximately 1.1 million properties in the UK that use heating oil as the primary fuel for heating, it is also used in a purer form for cooking.

What is the lifespan of heating oil?

The lifespan of heating oil is dependent upon the conditions in which it is kept. If it is stored in a purpose made, weather proof container, it should last around two years and up to a maximum of around five years.

Are there different grades of kerosene?

In the UK there are two standard grades of heating oil. BS 2869 Class C1 is used for lanterns, camping stoves, wick heaters. BS 2869 Class C2 is used as domestic heating oil.

What temperature does Kerosene burn at?

Kerosene’s flash point is in excess of 35 degrees Celsius.

Is kerosene dangerous?

The health risks associated with handling and using heating oil are minimal, provided that the fuel is used in accordance with safety practices.

What more?

Check out Kerosene: health effects, incident management and toxicology for information about heating oil (also known as paraffin and jet fuel), for use in responding to chemical incidents.

Have a question that you can’t see the answer for? Contact us and let us know.

FAQs – Ordering

Q. Why is the minimum order 500 litres, why can I not just order 200 litres?

A. Our minimum order is 500 litres. Unfortunately, we don’t offer deliveries for less than 500 litres so that we can ensure our customers receive the best value from our services.

Q. Is heating oil safe to use?

A. Yes domestic heating oil is very safe. It is considered one of the the safest type of heat, it warms your home quickly, safely and cost effectively.

Q. Do I need to be present when the delivery is being made?

A. We don’t need you to be at home for a delivery, as long as our driver can access your tank easily and it isn’t locked.

Q What is premium kerosene?

A. Our premium kerosene improves the efficiency of your system by enabling the fuel to burn better. Your boiler will run at its most efficient, immediately. Premium kerosene reduces the amount of sooty build-up to keep your boiler running better for longer.

It also helps to maintain your boilers optimum performance resulting in improved efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and using less fuel to heat your home.

Q. Is there a best time of year to purchase heating oil?

A. It is always best to fill your tank before the winter months. When the heating season begins, delivery times may be increased due to high demand and prices can also rise.

Q. Why do fuel prices change?

A. The wholesale price which we buy your heating oil at constantly fluctuates. We continuously monitor the wholesale price of the heating oil we supply and we buy from all of the major oil companies to ensure we can offer you the best prices possible.

Q. I have just moved into a property with oil heating, how much oil should I purchase?

A. You can have your tank filled or you may want to budget a certain amount of money. However the minimum order is 500litres.

Q. Where is my delivery?

A. The order confirmation provides you with the latest date that your order will be delivered. Please be aware this is an estimated time.at very busy periods of high demand there may be a delay however the supplier always will aim to deliver on time.

Q. Can a delivery be made by a smaller tanker?

A. Yes we have access to smaller vehicles. Please note you only need to select the small vehicle if for example you have a miniature dust cart to collect your waste.

Q. How much is VAT on fuel?

A. There is 5% VAT on all heating oil deliveries for domestic customers to their homes. For commercial customers, including farms, there is 5% VAT on orders less than 2,300 litres. For deliveries greater than 2,301 litres, commercial customers pay 20% VAT on the whole delivery.

Q. How do I pay for my fuel?

A. We currently accept Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard and American Express payments via our website.

Q. Can I cancel my order?

A. You can cancel the order before the delivery has been scheduled. Please email us if you wish to cancel.

Order Heating Oil Online FAQs

Order heating oil online FAQs