Encyclis has announced the successful completion of the UK’s first pilot project to use sustainably hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in waste-to-energy incineration. This breakthrough results from a 12-month research and development program to explore the possibility of replacing diesel with an environmentally friendly product made from waste vegetable oil to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

Implemented at the Newhurst Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) in Leicestershire, the pilot is the first to use HVO fuel in the start-up phase of a plant after maintenance, and Encyclis CEO Owen Michaelson said the groundbreaking achievement demonstrates a huge effort by the team and marks another practical step in the company’s drive to decarbonize its waste-to-energy business.

Michaelson emphasized, “We are proud to be the first company in the world to achieve this goal. Tackling climate change is a matter of urgency and requires real action, not just talk. This achievement not only enhances our ability to recover energy and resources from waste, but also demonstrates that we are actively reducing our carbon emissions through our carbon capture program and similar initiatives.”

Through this project and its carbon reduction program, Encyclis is further demonstrating its leadership in combating climate change and driving the waste-to-energy sector towards a more sustainable future.

The ORLEN Group has begun selling its HVO100 fuel at two gas stations in Germany and plans to expand further to other stations across Germany in the near future.

HVO100 is a second-generation biofuel derived from vegetable oils as well as waste products from the food and hospitality industries, including used cooking oil. The innovative fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent compared to conventional fossil fuels and can be used in most diesel-engined vehicles without any modifications.

The ORLEN Group is also making strides in marketing HVO100 in the Czech Republic, where the necessary legal framework is already in place. Wholesale sales in this market are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, and preparations are underway at the Paramo terminal in Pardubice, which will serve as a distribution center for the product. In addition, the Company is exploring the possibility of expanding sales of HVO100 into the retail segment of the Czech market.

 The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is trialing the use of a fossil-free marine diesel to fuel the Royal Research Ships (RRS) James Cook and Discovery. Use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), made from used vegetable oils and fats and non-food crops, is able to significantly reduce net CO2 vessel emissions, compared to conventional diesel fuel.

The trial is funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which owns the two vessels, in support of a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) goal to achieve net zero emission operations by 2040.