The Case For Oil-Fired Industrial Heating
Hadar Zephr Cabinet Heater
Hadar Fornax Oil Fired Unit Heater
Hadar Zephr Cabinet Heater
In an era of decarbonisation, heat pumps, and electrification, oil-fired heating might seem anachronistic. Yet in many industrial, commercial, and large-space settings it remains a compelling choice — especially when paired with advanced units and low-carbon fuels. Below, we explore why oil-fired remains relevant, and highlight two modern Hadar products that use oil for fuel.
Why Oil-Fired Heating Still Works
Before jumping into specific units, it’s worth reviewing the core arguments in favour of oil-fired heating in industrial or large-volume contexts:
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High energy density & compact fuel storage
Oil (or diesel-type fuels) pack high thermal content per volume, meaning you can store a lot of energy on-site in a relatively small tank. For large facilities, plants, warehouses, or remote sites, that self-contained energy “reserve” is valuable. -
Fuel flexibility & independence
In many regions, natural gas grid access is limited or expensive to provision. Oil-fired heaters allow complete independence from gas networks. The operator controls resupply, scheduling, and fuel quality. -
Fast, controllable heat delivery
Modern oil burners (especially modulating or hi/lo designs) can ramp output relatively quickly. That responsiveness helps to meet changing load demands better than slower thermal systems in some cases. -
Proven reliability & serviceability
Oil-fired heating is a mature technology with many decades of field service experience. Spare parts, service competence, and troubleshooting practices are well established. Many industrial sites already have service regimes for oil systems. -
Upgradability and retrofit paths
Many existing boiler rooms or oil-fuel systems can be retrofitted or repowered to newer, more efficient burners, or even adapted to alternative fuels (e.g. HVO) without wholesale replacement of infrastructure. -
Regulatory and emissions mitigation via cleaner fuels
The advent of renewable-drop-in fuels (e.g. HVO) allows operators to retain the tangible benefits of oil-fired systems while achieving much lower carbon emissions and air pollutant profiles. -
Cost predictability in volatile markets
While fossil fuel prices are volatile, bulk procurement and on-site storage allow hedging, forward purchases, and seasonal scheduling, which can offer more predictable cost control than relying solely on external grid or gas utilities.
Of course, oil-fired heating is not a perfect solution in every case: capital cost, combustion emissions, fuel logistics, and regulatory pressure must all be managed. But for many large-scale industrial settings, it remains not only viable but, in many cases, optimal. Especially for sites without gas, with high instantaneous heat load swings, or with remote logistics constraints.
Hadar Fornax — Oil-Fired Unit Heater
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The Fornax is an oil-fired unit heater with output capacities from 30 kW up to 200 kW.
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Key construction: 304 stainless steel for both the combustion chamber and heat exchanger, giving long life, corrosion resistance, and robustness in harsh environments.
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Compliance & efficiency: All models satisfy the ErP 2021 requirements, ensuring good energy performance.
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Fuel versatility: The Fornax can be supplied for use with 35-second oil, 28-second oil, or HVO fuel, giving users flexibility in fuel choice or future-proofing for lower-carbon operation.
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Air delivery: Standard configuration is free-blowing, but optional EC-motor centrifugal fan versions allow ducted installation.
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Combustion control: Uses a hi/lo burner to modulate between two firing levels, improving fuel usage and matching load
Hadar Zephr — Oil-Fired Cabinet Heater
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The Zephr is a cabinet-type heater design. The product line is more commonly known for gas-fired variants, but Hadar offers an oil-fired (Class D gas oil) version.
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Output range: Zephr units cover 30 kW to 1000 kW in vertical freestanding cabinet oil models.
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Efficiency & features: In gas mode, some Zephr units reach up to 109% net efficiency (due to condensing design features). In oil mode, the units are designed with modulating or two-stage burners, and can include EC fan drives, duct or free-blow configurations, and optional extras like mixing boxes or filtration.
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Fuel flexibility: The Zephr range can use HVO as a fuel, in addition to gas, LPG, or oil.
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Air distribution: EC fans circulate air across heat exchanger, and units can be specified as free-blow or ducted.
When Oil + HVO Heater Systems Make Sense
Below are some use cases and design considerations where oil-fired + HVO systems like the Fornax or Zephr can outperform alternatives:
Use Cases
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Remote or off-grid facilities
Chemical plants, remote factories, and rural warehouses that lack natural gas infrastructure but have periodic fuel deliveries — storing HVO or diesel oil on site becomes more viable than installing long pipelines or grid extension. -
High or variable heat-demand zones
Workshops, aircraft hangars, large open-span buildings or facilities with rapid thermal cycling benefit from the fast, high-output characteristics of oil-fired unit heaters. -
Retrofit of existing oil-fuel infrastructure
Many older industrial plants already have oil storage, piping, fuel-handling systems and some combustion infrastructure. Upgrading to modern burners or switching to HVO is more cost-effective than a full system swap to gas or electric heat. -
Emergency or backup heating / peak load backup
In mixed-technology sites (e.g. with heat pumps or gas), an oil-fired system can act as a “top-up” heater during extreme cold or grid outages. -
Zones where installation constraints preclude major ductwork or heat pump plant
In parts of a facility where retrofitting large heat exchangers or duct runs is costly, a self-contained oil heater like a Fornax or Zephr can be installed locally.
Oil-fired industrial heating is far from obsolete. By combining mature, reliable hardware (like the Hadar Fornax and Zephr units) with modern fuels such as HVO, operators can achieve:
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High, responsive heating capacity
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Fuel independence and storage convenience
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Reduced carbon emissions and cleaner combustion
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Longevity and retrofit flexibility
For many industrial, warehouse, workshop, or remote-site applications, a well-designed oil + HVO heating system offers an optimal path — blending the proven robustness of oil-based heat with the environmental and regulatory demands of the future.