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As part of the UK’s strategy to combat climate change, investments in renewables are considered vital. Since transport, infrastructure and construction sectors are key contributors to emissions, Green Biofuels has developed GreenD+ with the aim of providing 10% of the UK’s diesel needs. This biodegradable fuel expels the lowest carbon emissions of any advanced fuel replacing standard diesel.
On the road to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the UK government is focused on a ‘green recovery’, where increased investment in green energy is anticipated to generate new jobs that aid the economy, and help to combat climate change, while the country races to meet net-zero targets by 2050.
To combat climate change, policymakers must focus on one of the greatest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions that accelerates global warming - the burning of fossil fuels, particularly in transport, construction and infrastructure industries.
Turbulent CO2 Emissions Through Time
In recent years, there has been some progress to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with a decline seen since 2018. In 2019, total greenhouse gas emissions lowered by 3.6% compared to 2018, and by 45.2% since 1990, according to National Statistics.
Since 2018, the transport sector has been responsible for a third of all CO2 emissions in the UK - mainly from road traffic. Falling levels have been due to the development of increasingly fuel-efficient cars, and a steadying of traffic growth.
Diesel vehicles are known to be a great contributor of emissions. There are currently 12.9 million diesel cars on UK roads, according to the Department of Transport. A total of 34 billion liters of diesel fuel are used each year in the UK, which is twice the amount of petrol, which equates to around 16 billion liters.
Construction and infrastructure sectors also play a huge part. Processes of extraction manufacturing during the building process contribute 10% of the UK’s CO2 emissions, according to the UK Green Building Council.
Sustainable Diesel Alternative for a Better Future
Biofuels are one of the largest sources of renewables today, made from organic matter and waste. They can be used to make biodiesel fuel, by chemically reacting types of organic lipids such as vegetable oil with alcohol. Bioethanol fuel can also be generated, which is derived from sugarcane or corn.
Companies across the globe are increasingly using biofuels for a greener future. In the transport sector, biofuels are often mixed with existing fuels such as gasoline and diesel.
Based in London, UK, Green Biofuels has worked to replace standard diesel with its own advanced fuels since 2013, having developed GreenD+ to achieve cleaner air.
This alternative fuel is generated from hydrotreated vegetable oil, featuring a similar chemical structure to regular diesel, but offering the same performance, while reducing harmful nitrogen oxides, particulates and CO2 emissions.
Compared to conventional diesel, it reduces nitrogen oxide by up to 30%, particulates by 85%, and greenhouse gases by 90%, according to statistics derived from independent tests at the Millbrook specialist vehicle testing facility.
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Use in Construction and Infrastructure
New customers can use the GreenD+ alternative fuel straight away without requiring any equipment upgrades. The fuel gives off the lowest emissions of any advanced fuel replacing standard diesel on construction sites.
With this revolutionary solution, Green Biofuels aims to supply 10% of the diesel fuel market so that emissions from transport, fleet vehicles and industrial plants can be reduced.
On 3 August 2020, Fuel & Lubricant distributor, New Era Fuels Ltd. teamed up with Green Biofuels to develop GreenD+, so their construction and infrastructure customers could use it to reduce their environmental impact.
To begin, they set out to provide the product to over 4,000 customers in the London M25 area, including Volker Fitzpatrick and Balfour Beatty, before further distribution to Cumbria, Oxfordshire, and Kent.
Is GreenD+ a Reliable Alternative for the Rail Sector?
GreenD+ will be available to rail networks, providing a biodegradable fuel to help rail operators cut down on their emissions. Green Biofuels joined forces with company VolkerFitzpatrick to reduce emissions across their UK-wide rail enterprise, including locations in London and Scotland. The company expects to reduce its CO2 emissions by around 4000 metric tonnes every year.
VolkerFitzpatrick Rail division managing director John Cox stated: “We are delighted to have taken the steps to fulfil our commitment of improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions in our business. We believe we are the first construction company to take and implement the decision to adopt GreenD+ across our operations.
“The ability to use a total drop in replacement fuel without any capital expenditure or changes to any of our equipment was a significant reason for adopting GreenD+, which is a hidden gem of a product.”
Green Biofuel’s sustainable diesel alternatives could significantly reduce emissions derived from diesel fuel in the UK. The company has remained operational during the coronavirus pandemic, providing high performance, low emission fuels to construction, infrastructure and transport industries across the country, to achieve cleaner air and combat climate change.
References and Further Reading
2019 UK greenhouse gas emissions, provisional figures [Online] National Statistics, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/875485/2019_UK_greenhouse_gas_emissions_provisional_figures_statistical_release.pdf (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
2018 UK greenhouse gas emissions, provisional figures [Online]. National Statistics, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/790626/2018-provisional-emissions-statistics-report.pdf (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
Biofuels [Online]. Shell. Available at: https://www.shell.com/energy-and-innovation/new-energies/biofuels.html (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
Green Biofuels News page [Online]. Green Biofuels. Available at: https://www.gbf.ltd/ (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
Ilaria Grasso Macola (2020). Q&A: reducing NOx and carbon emissions with Green Biofuels [Online]. Railway Technology. Available at: https://www.railway-technology.com/features/reducing-nox-carbon-emissions-with-green-biofuels/ (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
Rail - VolkerFitzpatrick [Online]. VolkerFitzpatrick. Available at: https://www.volkerfitzpatrick.co.uk/ (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
Road fuel consumption and the UK motor vehicle fleet [Online]. Assets Publishing. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/812632/Road_fuel_consumption_and_the_UK_motor_vehicle_fleet.pdf (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law [Online]. UK Government. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-becomes-first-major-economy-to-pass-net-zero-emissions-law (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
UK Green Building Council [Online]. Available at: https://www.ukgbc.org/ (Accessed on 15 August 2020).
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