Market study of coffee logs and other new and emerging fuels

Descriptions

Measures regulating the sale of fuels used for domestic burning came into force in May 2021. The aim is to shift from more to less polluting fuels, i.e. from wet wood to dry wood, and from traditional house coal to low sulphur manufactured solid fuels. The supply of traditional house coal and wet wood sold in units under 2m³ is being phased out between 2021 and 2023. Sulphur and smoke emission limits have been introduced for manufactured solid fuels. We are aware that new fuels, such as coffee logs, are entering the market. As stated in the Clean Air Strategy, the government wants to encourage innovation, but customers need to be certain that these products are safe to use and no testing standard currently exists. Further research is needed to consider the most appropriate standard for these products to ensure that health and environmental impacts are minimised. Government intends to review these fuels with a view to setting relevant standards. Currently, these fuels are exempt from the new requirements, and may continue to be sold outside Smoke Control Areas. This project is a first step in the review of these new and emerging fuels. We want to find out the size of the market for coffee logs and other emerging waste-based fuels, and how this is responding to the recently introduced new requirements. This will help us to decide the scale of the issue, and whether it is proportionate to commission further research into emissions from these fuels with a view to introducing appropriate regulations. We are aware that, since the new measures were introduced, lignite is starting be sold as a fuel for domestic burning. The new requirements do not apply to lignite, and concerns have been raised that this is a highly polluting form of coal. We are also looking for information about the size of the market and its response to the new requirements for this fuel, and any other emerging fuels such as pet coke to see whether research and possible new standards is proportionate