HVR talks to Phil Adams, managing director of Riello, who explains how the company is staying one step ahead of the game.
THE WAY we produce our energy is changing fast. Climate change, legislation, reducing carbon emissions and even the credit crunch - all of these are affecting how we use fuel.

'It is incredible the speed of change driven by environmental issues and legislation and how product technology is developing to keep pace and stay ahead of the game,' explains Phil Adams, managing director.

'It is vital for Riello to look forward and make sure we have the right products in place to meet the demands of the market.'

Riello Burners is a leading supplier of burners to the UK and Irish markets, with products spanning the residential, commercial and industrial market sectors, from 10kW to 30MW. It is part of the Italian-based Riello Group which supplies heating products worldwide.

'For Riello it is about providing a technical solution,' explains Adams. 'It's not enough just to supply good products, it offers the whole commercial and technical package including comprehensive pre- and post-sales support, R&D, service and training.

It is an approach Riello has cultivated since it started supplying burners to the UK and Ireland which has enabled it to establish its position as market leader.

'Through this partnership approach, we strive to support our OEMs and customers in selecting the optimum burner for the application,' says Adam. 'An example of this is our burner/boiler matching schedules, which enables every boiler to be specifically matched to a burner depending upon the application and output required, providing the best commercial and energy efficient package to the specifier and end user. Furthermore, this is now available at the touch of a button on our website.'

The Riello RDB range of residential oil burners supplied to the boiler manufacturers in the UK and Ireland has been specifically designed for the market which has moved from standard to high-efficiency boilers, and are specifically set to each manufacturer's boiler design.

On the commercial and industrial side, Riello offers a range of burners to suit nearly every application required, including those within the industrial process sector where it is rare to get two applications the same.

'The commercial RS/RL range of gas, oil and dual burners is available with outputs up to 5MW and we are finding that where security of fuel supply is an issue, or if the end user wants to take advantage of differing fuel prices, consultants are increasingly specifying dual fuel options. For example, we recently supplied burners to the Tate Modern which will run on gas or oil, as precise temperature control is vital to the controlled atmosphere in which artworks are displayed and stored, if fuel supplies were interrupted.'

So with such a well established market position, what does the future hold for Riello?

Adams says: 'Climate change and pending legislation has increased our research into existing and new technologies, including low NOx, lower kW outputs and increased operational controls which will play a major part in making burners more energy-efficient.

'The UK has signed up to a European-wide target of a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 which is going to be challenging to meet. Renewable energy is one of they key buzzwords of the moment, and we need to make sure we have the right products and infrastructure in place to meet the demand for renewable technologies.'

In 2006, only 1.5% of our energy came from renewable sources. If current policies continue this will only rise to 5% by 2020. To get 15% of energy from renewables is a ten fold increase in renewable energy consumption from where we are now. Quite rightly, Adams expresses concern about whether the UK will be able to deliver this level of change in renewable energy in such a short period of time considering the current economic situation and the impact on new build.

One area that has received little attention up until now is liquid biofuels. Perhaps this is because oil is seen as a relatively small proportion of the market when compared with mains gas. But there are also many commercial and industrial applications that rely on oil and dual fuels too.

Biofuel blend

Riello envisages a liquid biofuel blend with kerosene and diesel which can be virtually 100% retrofitable in heating applications, and thinks it could dramatically assist governments in reducing carbon emissions.

'Heating accounts for the largest single proportion of the UK's final energy demand at 49%, and the largest proportion of our carbon emissions at 47%, Adams explains. 'But with only 0.6% of heating generated from renewable sources, there is an area of massive opportunity here for the UK to reduce carbon emissions.

'We've been working on developing liquid biofuels for several years now, with excellent results so far. Riello is working with OFTEC and ICOM on a project to establish a 'straight swap' fuel specification with biofuel blends reaching 50%.

'The lab results have been beyond our expectations and with field trials already started in conjunction with Carbon Connections and the University of East Anglia, the results are being closely monitored but so far are extremely encouraging.'

Adams thinks the government could be missing a trick with biofuels.

'Its latest renewable energy strategy focuses on biomass, solar and heat pumps. But we are trying to make people aware that, potentially, you could use liquid biofuel on existing equipment. So with very little capital outlay, and a few minor adjustments, you can adapt existing domestic or commercial boilers to run on liquid biofuel.'

'Riello acknowledges that liquid biofuels are not the only solution, but should be seriously considered alongside these other products as part of a comprehensive renewable portfolio which can be offered to the market. An existing forced-draught boiler could easily be converted to run on liquid biofuel, and the opportunities for carbon savings in the retrofit market are huge. While many of the new regulations address new build, we also need to be looking at how we can convert existing plant to reduce emissions in a cost- effective way.'

Adams speculates that perhaps the reason that biofuels for heating are not receiving much government focus is the race to use them for transport. There has also been some unfair negative press surrounding the supply of biofuels.

The Gallagher report, issued by the Renewables Fuel Agency last year, was sensationalised in the press. However, Adams points out that the report did not condemn the use of liquid biofuels, but stated that they could help reduce carbon emissions if managed properly and from a sustainable source which does not compromise food supply.

Looking ahead to a liquid biofuel for the future, Riello undertook some detailed research, which showed liquid biofuels used for heating could have a more positive effect on reducing carbon emissions than if used for transport.

The Road Transport Fuel Obligation is currently pushing us towards using biofuel for cars and lorries. But if the current RTFO obligation remains in place, it would take 1.9M hectares of arable land to produce the necessary crops, and only result in a one million tonne reduction in carbon emissions. However, if the same amount of land was used to produce liquid biofuel for domestic heating, it would cater for all of the homes in the UK which currently use oil. In addition it would reduce carbon emissions by 7.5M tonnes.

Rather than looking to use liquid biofuels for transport, we should be considering biofuels for heating. Research on electric cars is already well advanced, and would allow for central generation from a renewable source. It would also help reduce air and noise pollution.
Riello is keen to push the use of biofuels, and sees it as a real opportunity to reduce our carbon emissions at minimal cost to the end user.

Adams surmises: 'unless we, as businesses, look to the future and stay one step ahead, we could miss real opportunities to make a lasting contribution to the future of our environment.'

Riello worldwide

• Riello group has a turnover of more than 3560M

• 9 production sites

• 4 research centres

• 14 international companies

• Customers in 70 countries

• More than 2,000 employees

• 9 brands worldwide

• More than 400,000 burners sold worldwide

Timeline

· 1922 first Riello burner made in Italy

· 1960s consolidation of Italian market

· 1980s expansion of Riello sales to UK and North America

· 1990s the Riello group expands through acquisition of other heating companies

· 2000s opening of new factory in Legnago, Italy. Expansion of combustion research centre for burner testing and matching.