LPG: fuelling the UK foodchain

Wednesday 24th August 2016

Our members of UKLPG are reporting a significant increase in demand for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) from commercial users and the food and drink sector is no exception, with increasing take up in the meat, cereal, dairy, brewing and distilling industries. With some suppliers reporting an increase in demand of as much as 50%, what is driving this switch to LPG and why now?

There are a number of factors that are currently pushing LPG to the foreground.

Perfect for heat requirements - LPG is a widely available, reliable off-grid fuel source that acts in the same way as natural gas, making it perfect for consistent heating, drying, baking and cooking processes.
Clean - regulatory obligations are driving demand for cleaner energy sources and now that the Energy Related Products (ERP) Directive is being applied to commercial units, where oil is losing its appeal, LPG is fast gaining ground as a long-term, low-carbon solution.
Future-proofed - the LPG sector has worked hard to ensure that this versatile gas can be used with the latest low carbon technologies to meet the needs of a wide range of businesses, long into the future.

Undoubtedly rising energy costs are on the agenda of all businesses, but they are particularly pressing in the energy-intensive processes seen in food and beverage production. It is exciting to see this highly convenient and easy to use fuel source become an increasingly significant part of the solution for so many businesses.

At a glance - LPG benefits for food and drink production

Acts in the same way as natural gas
Provides stable temperature control - critical for consistency of product
Produces a better end product in baking processes
Ensures products are safe and palatable due to low sulphur content
Produces less greenhouse gas emissions than any other off-grid fossil fuel when measured on a total fuel cycle
Can be used in multiple applications from steaming, drying to cooling and powering low-emission forklift trucks in a warehouse
Can be transported, stored, and used virtually anywhere. It does not require a fixed network and will not deteriorate over time.

Read our case studies exploring the benefits for the food and drink sector in more detail.

Rob Shuttleworth, UKLPG Chief Executive