Head
Office Press Office - 19-Oct-2006 - Recycled vegetable
oil is being harnessed in a two-year biodiesel
trial announced today, that will see 100 Environment
Agency vehicles reducing their emissions by 20%.
The trial will aim to demonstrate
the environmental and economic viability of this
part renewable fuel, with an independent auditor
verifying the effects of long-term biodiesel use
on the fleet.
By aligning emissions savings
with Kyoto Protocol targets (20%) and welcoming
a private courier service into the second year
of the trial, the Environment Agency hopes to
not only prove that CO2 reduction targets can
be achieved, but demonstrate that a commercial
transport company can also run on alternative
fuel.
"Like many organisations,
the Environment Agency’s biggest negative environmental
impact comes from vehicle emissions," Environment
Agency project manager Simon Dawes said.
"By using a fuel that is
partly non-fossil based in our essential operational
vehicles, we are striving to meet the high standards
we demand of ourselves to use less resources and
produce less CO2.
"Biodiesel contains vegetable
oil sourced from crops or recycled from the food
industry, which is then processed to allow blending
with normal, ultra low sulphur diesel.
"By using recycled waste
vegetable oil in a 22% blend - we can maximise
the carbon saving from this fuel - helping us
to achieve our aim of a 20% reduction in emissions."
One hundred Environment Agency
badged vehicles stationed in Llandarcy, Launceston
and Sale will be included in the trial. Our partners,
Natural England, British Waterways, Allied Bio
Diesel Industries and our lab courier City Sprint
will trial the fuel in their vehicles for the
second year.
"Extending the trial across
these partner fleets will add credibility to the
results, while running biodiesel in a commercial
courier will demonstrate that this fuel is viable
in a commercial situation."
The B22 blend is an alternative
fuel that can be used in regular diesel vehicles
without the need for engine modifications. The
trial hopes to provide evidence to manufacturers
that currently will not warranty their vehicles
for use of more than a five-percent blend, that
this fuel does not damage vehicles in any way.
Funded by the Treasury's Invest
to Save Budget (ISB), with the tendering process
for acquiring an independent research body nearing
completion, the trial will begin in April 2007.
