According to the Council, the reduction equates to more than a fifth of total fleet-produced emissions. Fuel distributor Certas Energy will supply the HVO with approximately one million litres expected to be consumed over the course of the year.
The Scottish Government has stated its ambitions to phase out the need for new petrol or diesel vehicles in public sector fleets by 2030, and end the sales of diesel HGVs for vehicles between 3.5 and 26 tonnes by 2035.
Council leaders say this move demonstrates North Ayrshire Council’s commitment to aligning its priorities with the Government’s sustainability ambitions.
HVO uptake increasing
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “As a local authority, we are continually striving to reduce our carbon footprint and ensure that climate change and sustainability are at the heart of the decisions we make. Using HVO will help to make a significant impact, cutting the overall reduction of fleet-produced emissions by more than 20 per cent.”
Darren Holloway, Commercial Director for Energy Solutions at Certas Energy, said: “We are thrilled to be fuelling the transition to net zero for North Ayrshire Council, who are one of a growing number of public sector organisations switching to HVO.
“Demand for HVO is growing year-on-year across the UK as more organisations are understanding the sustainability benefits of switching to this fuel. We anticipate this trend to continue for the next decade, and the public sector will be a key driver for this.”
The image, provided by North Ayrshire Council, shows a HVO-powered refuse collection vehicle with Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, and Phil Diffin, Assistant Manager for Waste Resources at North Ayrshire Council, Scotland.