Mike
Dunning - 19-Oct-2006 - Part of a new fleet of
environmentally-friendly Environment Agency vehicles
is to be tested in Cornwall.
The Duchy is one of three areas
in England and Wales set to trial 100 Agency bio-diesel
vehicles that will partly run on recycled vegetable
oil. The two-year project should result in a 20
per cent reduction in the fleet’s carbon dioxide
emissions.
‘Like many organisations, the
Environment Agency’s biggest negative environmental
impact comes from vehicle emissions. 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 ,’
said Environment Agency project manager Simon
Dawes.
The trial aims to demonstrate
the environmental and economic benefits of this
renewable fuel, with an independent auditor verifying
the long-term effects of bio-diesel use on the
fleet.
The Cornwall vehicles will be based at the Agency’s
Launceston office.
Bio-diesel 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 – the Agency aims to maximise
the carbon saving from this fuel – helping to
achieve its objective of a 20% reduction in emissions.
Other bio-diesel vehicles will
be trialled at Llandarcy in Wales and Sale in
Cheshire. Natural England, British Waterways,
Allied Bio Diesel Industries and the Agency’s
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 bio-diesel in a commercial
courier will demonstrate that this fuel is viable
in a commercial situation,’ said Simon Dawes.
By aligning emissions savings
with Kyoto Protocol targets (20%), the Environment
Agency hopes to not only prove that CO2 reduction
targets can be achieved, but demonstrate it is
possible for commercial transport companies to
run on alternative fuel.
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), the trial will begin in
April 2007.
