Encyclis has announced the completion of a pilot programme to replace diesel in the energy-from-waste process with sustainable hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).
The achievement is the result of a 12-month research and development programme to find out whether diesel could be replaced with a sustainable product made from waste vegetable oil to reduce fossil carbon emissions in the energy-from-waste sector.
The Newhurst Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) in Leicestershire used HVO as part of its start-up process following a planned maintenance outage this month.
This is a UK industry first, according to Encyclis.
HVO, produced from fully renewable and sustainable waste, is now fuelling the plant’s auxiliary burners, plant vehicles and emergency generator, which completely removes their fossil CO2 emissions.
Encyclis CEO Owen Michaelson said: “This industry-leading achievement is a testament to the dedication of our teams and another example of the action we are taking right now to decarbonise our energy-from-waste operations. The fact that we are the first to achieve this is a source of immense pride.
“The climate challenge demands action, not words, and that’s at the heart of our strategy. We are working to provide a public sanitation solution that not only recovers energy and other resources from residual waste but actively cuts carbon emissions through initiatives like this, and our carbon capture programme.”
Once longer-term performance testing is completed, Encyclis plans to expand the use of HVO to replace diesel across its fleet of energy recovery facilities.
Encyclis completes HVO-powered energy-from-waste plant in “UK industry first”
