Buyer guide
Choosing a cremator fuel
Compare furnace fuels by your operating needs, local regulations and the infrastructure available at your site.
Step 1: Map your operating needs
Start with how the furnace will actually be used. Fuel choice follows the workload, not the other way round.
- Annual volume and daily pattern: continuous daily use favours fuels with low running cost per cremation; intermittent use favours fast heat-up.
- Shift pattern: single-shift sites cool down overnight, so reheat time and energy matter more.
- Case mix: human, pet or mixed work, including large animals, affects chamber size and burner capacity.
- Back-up needs: decide whether you need a second fuel or a back-up supply if your main energy source fails.
- Staff skills: some fuels need extra handling, storage checks or certification.
Step 2: Check local regulations
Rules differ by country, region and even municipality. Check them before you shortlist a fuel.
- Emission limits for dust, CO, NOx, mercury and dioxins, and whether filtration is mandatory.
- Climate or fossil-fuel policies: some regions discourage or plan to phase out new fossil-fuel installations.
- Fuel storage permits for LPG, diesel, HVO or kerosene tanks, including fire-safety distances.
- Planning rules on chimney height, noise, deliveries and visual impact.
- Legal status of alternatives: water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) is only permitted in some jurisdictions.
Ask your permitting authority early and ask suppliers for references of installations approved under similar rules.
Step 3: Assess available infrastructure
- Electricity: an electric cremator usually needs a large grid connection. Ask your network operator about capacity, cost and lead time.
- Gas: confirm pipeline access, pressure and whether biomethane or hydrogen blends are offered locally.
- Liquid fuels and LPG: check space for tanks, delivery access and reliable supply.
- Water and drainage: water cremation needs water supply and effluent discharge approval.
- Heat recovery: if you can use waste heat in the building or a district network, factor this in.
Step 4: Compare total cost and future-proofing
Compare quotes over 10 to 20 years, not only the purchase price. Include energy prices, connection costs, maintenance, filtration, carbon pricing and possible subsidies.
Ask each manufacturer which fuels their burner can switch to later, for example from natural gas to biomethane or from diesel to HVO, and whether this affects the warranty.
Questions to ask suppliers
- Which fuels is this model approved for, and can it switch fuel later?
- What is the typical energy use per cremation at my volume and shift pattern?
- How long is the heat-up from cold, and how much energy does it use?
- Which emission limits has this configuration met, and where?
- What on-site infrastructure must I provide (connection size, tanks, flue, drainage)?
All furnace fuels compared
Want to see running costs? Try the gas vs electric calculator.
Electric
Heating elements warm the chamber; no combustion fuel is burned at the furnace.
- Advantages
- No combustion at the furnace; quiet, clean site; can use renewable power
- Limitations
- Very high connection load; slower heat-up on some designs
- Buyer considerations
- Needs a large grid connection; carbon footprint follows your electricity mix. Some designs add a small gas or oil burner for support.
Natural gas
The most common fuel for human cremators in many markets, supplied by pipeline.
- Advantages
- Proven, widely supported, fast heat-up
- Limitations
- Fossil CO₂ emissions; needs pipeline access
- Buyer considerations
- Requires a gas connection; emits CO₂ and is exposed to gas price swings.
LPG / propane
Liquefied gas stored in tanks on site, used where there is no gas pipeline.
- Advantages
- Works off-grid with gas-type burners
- Limitations
- On-site tanks, deliveries and storage rules
- Buyer considerations
- Tank space, delivery logistics and storage safety rules.
Biogas / biomethane
Renewable gas that can usually replace natural gas in the same burner.
- Advantages
- Lower lifecycle carbon; often a drop-in for gas
- Limitations
- Limited supply and higher price in many regions
- Buyer considerations
- Supply and certificates differ by region; check burner suitability with the manufacturer.
Hydrogen (blends)
Emerging option: hydrogen blended into gas or hydrogen-ready burners.
- Advantages
- No CO₂ at the burner when pure
- Limitations
- Emerging; few proven references and scarce supply
- Buyer considerations
- Early stage; limited supply and few proven installations. Ask suppliers for references.
Diesel / light fuel oil
Liquid fuel used in regions without gas or a strong grid, including many animal cremators.
- Advantages
- Works where gas and grid are unavailable
- Limitations
- Higher emissions; fuel storage and stricter permits
- Buyer considerations
- Fuel storage, higher emissions and stricter permits in many countries.
Bio-diesel / HVO
Renewable liquid fuels (FAME bio-diesel or hydrotreated vegetable oil) that can replace fossil diesel.
- Advantages
- Renewable replacement for diesel, often with little equipment change
- Limitations
- Burner/warranty approval needed; price and supply vary
- Buyer considerations
- Check burner and warranty approval; price and availability vary.
Kerosene / paraffin
Liquid fuel used in some regions, often for smaller or portable units.
- Advantages
- Available in remote regions; suits small units
- Limitations
- Odour, emissions and storage; uncommon in regulated markets
- Buyer considerations
- Storage, odour and emissions; less common in regulated markets.
Wood / solid biomass
Traditional pyres and some open-air or wood-fired systems, common in parts of South Asia.
- Advantages
- Culturally established; locally available fuel
- Limitations
- High fuel use and smoke; rarely meets strict emission limits
- Buyer considerations
- High fuel use and smoke; enclosed cremators use less wood. Rarely accepted under strict emission rules.
Water (alkaline hydrolysis)
Not a fuel: a heated water and alkali process used instead of flame, mostly electrically heated.
- Advantages
- No flame or flue emissions at the vessel
- Limitations
- Legal only in some places; water and effluent handling
- Buyer considerations
- Legal only in some jurisdictions; see our water cremation page.
General guidance only; suitability depends on local rules and each manufacturer's burner options.