Report advocates for 'greener Swindon'
Tonnes of carbon emissions could be saved if Swindon Borough Council’s fleet of vehicles, particularly its refuse wagons, could run on vegetable oil.
Tonnes of carbon emissions could be saved if Swindon Borough Council’s fleet of vehicles, particularly its refuse wagons, could run on vegetable oil.
Members of the council’s Build a Greener Swindon policy and performance committee will be told by council officer Edward Jones that getting the authority’s vehicles to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil or HVO would save 1,703 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year – that’s an 81 per cent cut in the fleet’s output.
The report says: “HVO is typically 10-15 per cent more expensive than conventional diesel per litre, but is also up to 10 per cent more efficient, reducing the amount needed to be purchased.
“Transitioning the fleet to HVO fuel will contribute to making Swindon Greener and Better.”
The report says that in 2024, the council’s fleet of lorries, vans and cars used 673,602 litres of conventional diesel fuel. Emitting 2,194 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
This is three times the emissions from the heating and lighting 11 of the council’s buildings.
The report says if all the diesel-burning vehicles in the council’s fleet ran on HVO the emissions would be cut by 81 per cent to 1,703 tonnes and thus would result in: “a reduction in harmful pollution to Swindon pedestrians, a reduction in nitrogen oxides emissions by up to 27 per cent, a reduction in particulate matter emissions by up to 30 per cent and a reduction in carbon monoxide emissions by up to 24 per cent.”
Councillors will be told that there will be no need for a costly infrastructure change and that the vehicles do not need conversion to be able to run on the fuel.
Other benefits according to Mr Jones’ report are: “Similar or improved engine performance, reduced engine noise, better cold weather performance than conventional biodiesel and a potential reduction in maintenance costs due to cleaner burning.”
It adds: “The only other alternative available would be to buy Zero Emissions electric refuse vehicles.
“However, these are significantly more expensive to buy than an internal combustion vehicle- equivalent at present, it is not viable to replace all of the fleet in the immediate future.”
Running all suitable vehicles on HVO could increase fuel costs for the fleet by up to £150,000 as the fuel is more expensive than ordinary diesel.
HVO can be made from sources of oils such as vegetable oils, used cooking oil and animal fats by adding hydrogen and removing oxygen and other impurities. It can be used directly in engines which normally run on conventional diesel.
The Build a Greener Swindon committee will meet at 6pm on Thursday, June 26 at the Civic offices in Euclid Street. Members of the public are entitled to attend.