Are You Neutral On Carbon?
Only
those who have spent quite a long time living in a bunker will have
failed to notice the groundswell of activism related to global
warming and our planet’s future. Whether its mass protests in
cities worldwide or the political doublespeak of governments, the
call for the mass decarbonisation of how we live and work is being
heard loud and clear.
Unfortunately, it’s sometimes debatable whether that message is translating into meaningful action. Do these efforts have any chance of making a difference as the global consequences become increasingly apparent? Those are the biggest questions of all.
Biofuelling
The Argument
It’s
fair to say that the UK government is paying more than lip service to
the issues surrounding decarbonisation. The target to be a fully
carbon-neutral economy by 2050 is a legal commitment although there
are voices that say it’s not soon enough.
Biofuels have an essential part to play in the decarbonisation agenda, as they are manufactured using carbon-neutral raw materials such as food and wood waste. The end product is bioethanol that can be used in vehicles designed to run on this fuel or combined with fossil fuel to improve its environmental profile.
Funding
The Future
Transport
Secretary Grant Schapps recently announced government funding for
four biofuel plants. These, once operational, will offer
carbon-neutral fuelling options to transport industries.
Active
projects currently funded by the
£20m ‘Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition’ include
work by KEW Projects and Rika Biogas who have received a share of
£6.5m to build biofuel plants for use by the logistics and aviation
sectors.
An
additional £25m in funding is available via the ‘Advanced
Biofuels Demonstration Competition’. Current beneficiaries include
Nova Pangaea Technologies who are making great strides in developing
green biofuels made from sustainable sources.
Commenting
on the projects, Grant Schapps said: "This
funding will help encourage innovative technology using today’s
waste to power tomorrow’s green transport revolution, helping us
reach a cleaner and greener future.
Time
To Go Green
Biofuel
funding is an essential element in the UK’s environmental target
attainment. In combination with advances in EV technologies, urban
clean air zones and other low emission innovations, biofuel R&D
helps to rank the UK’s decarbonisation efforts as some of the most
advanced in the G20.
Estimates
show that research and deployment of low carbon biofuels will prevent
85 million tonnes of CO2 entering the environment by 2032. That’s
the equivalent of 18 million cars worth of carbon emissions and
around one-third of the target contribution expected from the
logistics and transport sector. If those figures can be achieved, it
will make the investments and funding in biofuels very worthwhile.
At
this stage, it’s worth mentioning the Truckcraft team’s efforts
in this vital area. Using biofuels in combination with our
solar-assisted delivery vehicles is undoubtedly a winning
combination. The up-to 5% fuel savings on offer along with the
carbon neutrality of biofuels makes this hybrid vehicle one of the
most versatile and greenest available today.
We’re
proud to have developed this groundbreaking innovation for both the
logistics sector and for our precious environment.
For more information on our approaches to decarbonisation, please contact the Truckcraft Bodies sales team on 0161 304 9404. Alternatively, email glen.pinder@truckcraftbodies.co.uk or emma.jane@truckcraftbodies.co.uk.
Published: Jan 20