Restoration group switches to greener biofuel
THE Wey & Arun Canal Trust is trialling the use of HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), a much greener alternative to diesel biofuel, in its plant and van fleet.
The synthetic HVO being used by the volunteer group restoring the 23-mile canal in Surrey and Sussex is made from 100% renewable waste fats and vegetable oils and claims to be better for the environment than regular diesel. As well as significantly reducing greenhouse gases the fuel is biodegradable and safe to use near water.
Up until now the trust has been using red diesel, but from April most sectors including construction will be banned from using the fuel as the Government aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The HVO biodiesel will be used in as much of the fleet as possible.
Restoration site supervision manager Dave Evans said the trust’s move to greener fuel was a positive one.
“We are keen to be as environmentally friendly as we can be in our restoration, so using HVO biofuel is a big step in the right direction. With the added benefit of being biodegradable, the HVO switch looks like being a big winner all round.”
The trust is already using the cleaner Aspen fuel in its lawnmowers, strimmers and power tools as the fuel is 99% cleaner than ordinary petrol. Being virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents, it means the fuel does not have the usual pungent petrol smell, making it more pleasant for volunteers to use.
Last year the trust made the move to reusable shuttering for its formwork at Tickner’s Heath road crossing at Alfold, Surrey. In previous years volunteers had constructed single- use wooden shuttering themselves, but for the pedestrian footbridge being built the team hired reusable shuttering as a more environmentally friendly option.