Encyclis has announced the completion of the ‘UK’s first’ energy-from-waste plant to use hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of diesel for its start-up process.
The milestone was achieved at the Newhurst Energy Recovery Facility in Leicestershire following a year-long research and development programme aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions in the waste-to-energy sector.
The use of HVO, produced from sustainable waste vegetable oil, eliminates fossil carbon dioxide emissions during plant start-up and shutdown phases, which traditionally rely on diesel or natural gas.
HVO is now used to fuel the plant’s auxiliary burners, vehicles and emergency generators, further contributing to carbon reductions.
Following successful trials at the Newhurst facility, Encyclis plans to expand the use of HVO across its energy recovery facilities.
The project was developed in collaboration with Saacke, the German manufacturer of the plant’s burners, and involved extensive testing to ensure efficiency and safety.