Derbyshire-based construction company, Phoenix Brickwork, is changing from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for the fuel they use in their equipment. They said that this fuel is high quality, non-toxic, and made from renewable materials that can be regrown, unlike fossil fuels. HVO has been used in various industries and is gaining ground in popularity due to the UK’s environmental goals. HVO fuel can be used as an alternative to fossil fuel and offer the same performance.
The company said they are switching their on-site fleet of telehandlers to hydrotreated vegetable oil. The change they are making will cut the CO2 emissions of their vehicles by up to 90%. They also set a deadline of April 2022 to stop using diesel for all their machinery.
Managing director Christian Watson said that the fuel is high quality, non-toxic, and made from renewable materials that can be regrown when stock is needed. HVO is 100% fossil-free, renewable, and biodegradable.
The low-carbon and low emission fuel is produced from waste cooking oil. It is compatible with conventional diesel equipment without any modification and even contributes to the protection and longevity of the engine.
With more focus on the world’s environmental health and the Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, urgent actions from both public and private entities are needed.
Their company says that they believe that the time is now, and the faster they act, the better the results will be in the future. Although the fuel may cost more than the standard diesel product, the change has more benefits for the environment, which is why they want to do it. The plant and fleet manager of Phoenix Brickwork, Craig Barron, said he wanted to put the business at the front of the construction industry’s drive towards carbon neutralisation. He added that it is rewarding to be part of a forward-looking firm that has built sustainability into its core principles. With the move, they are hoping that fellow construction industry colleagues will follow their lead.
Trade Associations Celebrate One Year of HVO in Domestic Properties
The trade associations behind the Future Ready Fuel campaign, UKIFDA and OFTEC, celebrated the first anniversary of the UK’s first-ever property that converted from oil heating to renewable liquid fuel. This was achieved by urging the Government to support a wider rollout in off-grid homes.
In 2020, in the small village of Scorrier, near Redruth in Cornwall, a bungalow began using the organic fuel completely. The property had used oil for heating in the past. A local fuel distributor separated the fossil heating oil from the oil tank. They adjusted the pump pressure on a nozzle and installed it to the oil boiler. Switching the property to the new alternative fuel only took less than an hour.
The conversion process took less than an hour and cost around £500.
This achievement is also a testament to how reliable the alternative fuel is. It is an important step closer to a low carbon fuel for homes and transportation.
After the conversion, the company and the homeowners were delighted with the trial’s progress. Furthermore, no snags have been observed in the past year. The homeowner Zoe said they were very happy with the product and surprised at how little time the alteration process took. They were happy to know that they were contributing to reducing carbon emissions and the other benefits of HVO fuel in the UK.
In the UK, oil-heated homes produce 5.3 metric tonnes of carbon every year. The use of alternative fuels can help homes save up to 88%. This means that Zoe has saved approximately 4.7 tonnes in the first year alone, which is equal to driving an average car for 17,500 miles.
In late October 2021, OFTEC and UKIFDA launched the second phase of their renewable liquid fuel demonstration programme. This includes broadening the geographic spread and giving the industry the chance to test the logistics of what could be a bigger switch to using renewable liquid fuels in the years to come. This phase is estimated to cover 1.7 million UK properties currently using oil to heat their homes.
As the Government recognises and acknowledges the importance of renewable liquid fuels for decarbonising off-grid houses, and there is over £800,000 the industry invested to show their belief in the project and demonstrate the viability of the solution in the real world.
Homes need to be given a choice for their renewable heating solutions. As a result, what will be used in their household should suit their needs and lifestyle. This will also ensure that the widespread adoption of low carbon technologies is facilitated.
This is why the two environmentally-focused companies are persuading the Government to extend the incentives for renewable liquid fuels. They are also asking the Government to include off-grid home heating so that more homes can make the switch to this greener alternative.
Good progress has been made, and many companies and technicians have involved themselves in the project. This is one of the factors that allowed for the identification of all the homes to be examined for compatibility.
Altogether, there are 200 homes located throughout Scotland, Wales, and England that will save approximately 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year of operation. Regular updates are given by OFTEC and UKIFDA.
HVO Fuel Supplier
Switching to HVO fuel from transport to households provides many benefits. Moreover, this conversion will make the world a better place to live in for the current and future generations.
If you want to move to a cleaner and greener future, reach out to us at HVO Fuel UK. We supply and advocate using this renewable fuel to make life a lot cleaner in the future. We work closely with innovative companies in Europe that focus on green innovation. You can browse hvofueluk.co.uk to learn more about our services. Do not hesitate to reach out, and we will be glad to answer your questions.
