Driving down emissions in your supply chain
The race towards achieving net-zero emissions is a significant challenge, particularly for supply chains and the transportation sector, who are one of the largest emitting contributors to global warming. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG’s) needs to happen now.
Many major companies in the transportation industry are working to decrease their GHG’s. Our partners at DHL provide a GoGreen Plus solution, investing in eco-friendly technologies and fuels throughout their operations and their network. However, many smaller road freight hauliers are finding it more challenging to adapt to the evolving technologies of delivering low-emission freight solutions.
It’s crucial to recognise that the majority of road freight in the UK – around 80% – is owned by vehicle operators with 15 vehicles or less and already operating at the smallest of margins, but still expected to invest in Euro 6 vehicles to enter low-emission zones. Many large logistics companies rely on the services of these smaller companies to enable them to meet customer demand.
HVO: The facts
HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil and is, in short, a sustainable alternative to diesel. Made from vegetable oil from a range of ‘feedstock’ that are produced from:
- Used cooking oil
- Residue fat fractions coming from food, fish and slaughterhouse industries
- Tall oil – by products as well as from:
- Non-food grade crop-based vegetable oil factions.
The ‘Hydrotreatment’ is the process of creating hydrocarbons which are very similar to mineral diesel molecules, and because of their similar properties are defined as an alternative diesel or Biodiesel.
The question is, how is it possible to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and make the giant leap to reduce emissions?
HVO is a biodiesel that is growing in use across the continent and could be the answer to making a big impact in emission reductions in the short term.
HVO with Prema Energy
We chatted to James Taylor and Carl Phillips from Prema Energy, the first importers of HVO into the UK, to learn more about the diesel alternative that might just help us support the road freight industry to reduce its emissions.
Hello! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about HVO, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information about this in the marketplace, how long has it been around for?
J: It might be reassuring to know that it’s not a new fuel, it has been on the continent for over 10 years and is available at fuel pumps in places like Sweden and Italy. Prema were the first to import it to the UK over 5 years ago and really started to gain traction in the last 2-3 years.
How has it evolved from Biodiesel?
J: We’re now onto second generation biodiesel, which has overcome some of the problems of the first biodiesel that was available. Biodiesel in its earlier form could be susceptible to diesel bug and didn’t do as well in colder temperatures. HVO today is better regulated, for example our HVO is guaranteed to not be derived from crops under the RFAS scheme, meaning there is no land use change which can lead to deforestation, it can only come from waste food stocks.
Who is using HVO today?
C: The King! A recent article discussing the environmentally friendly measures taken by the Royal Family stated that the King’s state Bentleys will run on HVO from this year.
J: The early adopters were companies like Skanska and Perkins who approve of it and were using it early on. The telling sign is the engine manufacturers who approve of it, including Scania, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover are happy for it to be used in their engines. Big companies with large-scale supply chains are demanding for more emissions reductions and looking for increased use of HVO such as Coca Cola, Pepsi and Diageo. The NHS have started to include the use of HVO in their requirements for suppliers wanting to work with them.
What is great about HVO?
J: HVO is a pragmatic solution while we are waiting for tomorrow’s technology. HVO can be used in any diesel engine and can be interchangeable.
C: HVO fuel is more sustainable – there is no damage through drilling. With HVO you can maintain and often improve your fleet’s range and weight capacity in comparison to electric vehicles on the market with no waiting time due to charging.
J: The greatest benefit is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 85% without big up-front costs and without disruption.
If you are interested in learning more about HVO and how we are supporting customers and hauliers to switch to HVO contact our Sustainable Freight Team today!
