Energy pioneers Warrens Group have taken delivery of the first of a fleet of new trucks which will be powered by their own gas.
Warrens runs what was the North-East’s first food-to-waste anaerobic digestion facility when it was built on Aycliffe Business Park in 2012.
Now the third-generation family-run firm claim they’ll be the first food waste recycling company in the UK to power their HGV waste collection vehicles with biogas converted directly from their own food waste customers.
Emerald Biogas currently collects and recycles more than 115,000 tonnes of food waste at its Aycliffe site to generate over 100 million kWh of clean, green energy every year, which is enough to power 19,000 homes.
Warrens director Antony Warren said: “As a company, we pride ourselves on our forward-thinking, we’ve always been early adopters of the latest technology and methods.
“Our fundamental purpose is to collect waste and convert it into energy, so we’ve been looking for a biogas-powered vehicle for a while – it was just a question of finding the right one.”
To achieve this objective, Warrens Group collaborated with IVECO, a leader in the design and manufacture of natural power vehicles.
IVECO’s unrivalled experience in gas vehicle technology has spanned more than 20 years, and was key to securing the deal to supply the Eurocargo Natural Power truck.
“We knew IVECO was at the forefront of the technology, and the team there were brilliant in helping us to understand the advantages of natural gas,” added Warren.
“Working with us to specify the perfect vehicle and supplying it faster than any other manufacturer we spoke to.”
The first new biomethane-powered truck will be in operation six days a week, with refuelling carried out at Warrens Group’s on-site Aycliffe facility.
It means the truck will be seen collecting food waste from a wide range of existing Warrens customers including pubs, restaurants, schools and supermarkets across the North East.
Director Adam Warren added: “We firmly believe that a sustainable business is a better business. Sustainability is something we advocate to all organisations and communities, as we support their efforts to address the environmental issues caused by traditional methods of waste disposal.
“By powering our own fleet on the biogas it collects, we’re demonstrating that when it comes to sustainability, we really do practice what we preach.”
It’s thought if HGV’s could be fuelled by gas made from renewable sources, carbon emissions would be almost eliminated.