Hovis

of paraffinic fuels, drop-in alternatives to diesel – in particular HVO because it does not rely on fossil fuels; it’s actually manufactured from waste oils and fats.

“Its real benefits are that it’s completely interchangeable with conventional diesel without any modifications required for the engine,” he continued. “The fuel is biodegradable, and alongside carbon saving it also results in cleaner burning and lower levels of NOx and particulate emissions.”

Moon said the fuel was also easy to distribute via existing infrastructure and was very stable, particularly in cold weather. It can also be mixed at any percentage with conventional diesel, eliminating any range anxiety.

Green D+ HVO

Fuel technology firm Green Biofuels produces its own Green D+ HVO, which is already used by a number of large fleets including CEVA Logistics, Hackney Borough Council and Hovis.

Magnus Hammick, chief operating officer at Green Biofuels, pointed out that the fuel is made from renewable, waste-derived feedstocks; is clear and odourless; is biodegradable; can reduce engine noise; and does not go off in the tank.

On a well-to-wheel basis compared with traditional diesel, it can reduce particulates by up to 85% and NOx emissions by up to 30%, with greenhouse gas reductions of up to 90%.

Green D+ HVO is certified under global sustainability scheme ISCC, as well as the UK’s recently launched Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme, run by the Zemo Partnership (see box).

HVO is only part of the road transport sector’s overall journey to net zero carbon, Hammick said, but can play a significant role today, with customers in the past six months saving around 35,000 tonnes of CO2 by making the switch.

One of these customers, Hovis, also took part in the webinar to bring the operator experience of using HVO to life. The bakery now uses Green D+ across its entire fleet of around 400 trucks and 250 trailers, which includes trucks from DAF, Iveco, MAN and Mercedes-Benz on a range of journey types including urban and long-distance. To date, it has used more than 9 million litres of HVO to cover 30 million miles.

Confidence in alternative fuels

Zemo Partnership has reported that the use of high blend renewable fuels (HBRF) like HVO, biomethane and biodiesel could slash 46 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and speed up decarbonisation of road transport.

It has launched a Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme that approves companies supplying HBRF on the basis of three performance criteria: life-cycle GHG emissions; feedstock sustainability; and supply chain traceability.

A unique feature of the scheme is a Renewable Fuel Declaration that operators receive with batches of the renewable fuel purchase. This includes a colour-coded GHG emission savings banding system similar to energy efficiency labels encouraging operators to strive to achieve higher GHG emissions savings.

Visit zemo.org.uk for details.

Tony Stuart, head of logistics operations support at the baker, told delegates the switch from diesel to HVO had seen no penalties in terms of fleet performance, mpg or refuelling infrastructure, making it an easy transition. Drivers are positive about the new fuel, he added, as it doesn’t smell or leave any residues in the way that diesel would, and the fuel has been readily available nationally.

If the need ever did arise to use traditional diesel, he added, the switch back would be instant because the same infrastructure can be used.

In terms of cost, Stuart said HVO had been by far the most economical way to reduce CO2 emissions significantly from the fleet. By the end of 2022, Hovis expects to have saved around 40,311 tonnes of CO2 from the switch. ■ Watch the full webinar free of

charge at freightinthecity.com

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