A renewables revolution with BioLPG

The Renewable Energy Directive is driving a need for businesses to switch to sustainable energy sources to meet a target of 20% of overall consumption by 2020. For the handling, storage and distribution industries, implementing an energy efficient warehouse must balance the need to contribute towards reducing the environmental impact of the fuel that forklift trucks use, while delivering a cost-effective and hassle free solution.

Reducing emissions and implementing sustainable energy strategies has never been on the agenda more than it is now. Policies such as the Renewable Energy Directive and acts such as the Paris Agreement demonstrate the steps needed to secure a sustainable future. Meanwhile, for FLTs fuelled by diesel, the European emissions standards for non-road mobile machinery continues to introduce increasingly more stringent ‘tiers’ to cut emissions and help the UK move towards a more sustainable future.

The industry is already familiar with the many benefits of running FLTs from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), including a reduction in carbon emissions and dangerous NOx and particulates compared to other fossil fuels. In fact, it is currently the lowest carbon emitting fossil fuel available on the market, emitting 20% less CO2 per kWh than oil.

However, the launch of BioLPG is set to help businesses cut carbon emissions further still, offering cleaner, greener energy to those in the industry seeking an alternative to fuels such as diesel, without any impact on performance.

BioLPG: the facts
Calor is the first energy company to bring BioLPG to the UK market. Produced by Neste at a custom built factory in Rotterdam, it will be available from summer 2017 for the FLT market.

Firstly, BioLPG is chemically identical to conventional LPG. This means there is no need for operators to change any equipment, appliances or supply infrastructure, or to use any costly additives. The fact that BioLPG can be used with all existing LPG appliances and applications is a huge advantage, saving operators from incurring additional expense on new equipment. As a result, FLTs already fuelled by LPG can immediately begin taking advantage of BioLPG and start realising instant savings, with no need for a separate supply chain. For those switching from diesel, the benefits will potentially be greater still.

Approved by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification scheme, BioLPG is created from renewable, ethically sourced feedstocks, such as organic plant materials, vegetable oil and animal fats. Approximately 60% of the fuel is made up from waste and residues, with the remaining 40% from sustainably sourced vegetable oils.

BioLPG is then blended with conventional LPG to deliver improved energy efficiencies. As a sustainable fuel source, this offers between 15 to 32 per cent savings in greenhouse gas emissions – depending on the proportion of waste materials in the BioLPG – without reducing performance. This is based on an overall allocation of 40 per cent BioLPG and 60 per cent conventional LPG blend.

It can be supplied in bulk or in cylinders; whichever is more suitable for the customer.

FAME
In the past, some logistics companies tried bio-diesels, using FAME (fatty acid methyl ester). However, only up to 7 per cent of this can be blended with diesel. Many businesses experienced problems, with the bio-diesel affecting engine performance, resulting in additional costs to rectify.

Conversely, due to the way BioLPG is manufactured, using hydrogenation of vegetable oils, it is effectively a ‘drop-in’ bio-fuel, so businesses can have every confidence that engine performance will not be affected.

Organisations operating in the handling, storage and distribution industries must continually strive to improve their environmental performance. BioLPG can help with this endeavour, while providing improved operational efficiencies that deliver greater energy savings and increase bottom line profitability, in line with the UK’s legislative and environmental ambitions.