HOUSEHOLD waste, unused straw from farmland and old wood will be among the unusual components used by four UK-based plants to produce green fuels with support from government funding.
Between 2018 and 2032 low carbon fuels are expected to save nearly 85 million tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to taking nearly 18 million cars off the road.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps commented on the news: “Whether you’re commuting to work or travelling on a family getaway, we want that journey to be as green and environmentally friendly as possible.
“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.”
Two of the projects that are funded under the government’s £20 million Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition are KEW Projects and Rika Biogas.
The two companies have been awarded a share of £6.5 million to build plants which aim to provide fuel for heavy goods vehicles.
The project at KEW will also research the concept of low carbon aviation fuel.
Over the next decade the UK advanced fuels industry is expected to be worth over £400 million and create 9,800 jobs.
A further two projects which are being funded under the £25 million Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Competition are also driving towards their final stages of development.
This includes Nova Pangaea Technologies, who will focus on the production of bio-ethanol from wood waste that can be blended with existing petrol used in road transport.
Future of Transport Minister George Freeman added: “We made a legally binding commitment to reaching Net Zero. Now we are delivering.
“The UK is reducing CO2 emissions faster than any other G20 nation. We are doing it by investing in research and development, supporting the uptake of low emission and electrical vehicles, new inner city Clean Air Zones and the world’s first comprehensive Transport Decarbonisation Plan.
“This global leadership is helping create a 21st century transport network that is better for our environment, our health and our economy: with the potential to deliver high-skilled jobs in the green economy to all corners of the nation.”
