Derby City Council in England switches hundreds of vehicles to renewable diesel
The Derby City Council in England’s East Midlands announced in October that it is introducing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, as an alternative to conventional diesel fuel.
The change is expected to cut greenhouse-gas emissions from the fuel by around 91 percent, saving more than 1,960 metric tons of carbon emissions every year.
These emissions savings would be equivalent to taking 1,220 mixed fleet cars off the road each year or, in terms of home-energy usage, the equivalent annual energy footprint of 737 average U.K. households.
“This helps show the scale of the difference the switch could make to Derby’s carbon footprint,” the city council said.
“We rely on our vehicles every day to provide services across the city, including collecting bins, cleaning streets and supporting adult and children’s social care,” the council added. “With such a large and varied fleet, replacing every vehicle with an electric alternative straight away is not currently practical.”
The Derby City Council said HVO provides a way of making a significant environmental difference now.
“It is a renewable alternative to diesel and, importantly, can be put straight into the council’s existing diesel vehicles without needing to change their engines or the council’s fuel infrastructure,” it said. “Checks have also confirmed that using it will not affect vehicle warranties.”
Before deciding to make the switch, the council successfully trialed HVO in partnership with the University of Derby.
The trial looked at how well the fuel performed in everyday use, as well as its environmental impact, and found it offered a practical and financially viable way to reduce emissions from the fleet.
“This decision allows us to make meaningful progress now while continuing to plan responsibly for the future,” said Ndukwe Onuoha, a member of the Derby City Council. “HVO gives us immediate carbon savings across a large proportion of our fleet and does so without disrupting the essential services residents rely on every day. It is a practical, evidence-led step that reduces emissions now while supporting our longer-term transition to a cleaner and more sustainable fleet.”
Carmel Swan, also a city council member, added, “We want to do everything we can to make Derby greener and reduce our impact on the environment. Introducing HVO means we can make a significant reduction in the emissions from our fleet now, while still providing the essential services that residents depend on every day. It’s another important step towards a cleaner, more sustainable city.”
The Derby City Council said it will continue to engage in demonstration opportunities, trials and lease options to support the transition to cleaner fleet operations and ensure that future decisions remain evidence based and in the best interests of residents.
