DB Cargo UK has switched all trains it operates in and out of Drax Power Station to run on hydro-treated vegetable oil.
DB Cargo UK currently transports around 4.5 million tonnes of biomass pellets to Drax Power Station annually, operating around 60 trains a week to the site.
It is estimated that by switching from traditional red diesel to HVO will reduce rail freight carbon emissions by up to 90%, saving over 12,000 tonnes of carbon each year equivalent to 30 million miles worth of car journeys.
DB Cargo UK’s Chief Sales Officer Roger Neary said the decision by Drax to adopt the use of HVO in its trains was a win for both companies. “The Government had set the rail industry a stretching target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and remove all diesel only traction by 2040 so the use of HVO in our trains will go a long way to helping us meet that challenge,” said Roger.
“At the same time, it will help Drax meet its own sustainability targets and minimise its impact on the environment.
“Until a firm commitment is made to electrification of the UK network, HVO is the only credible solution to rail freight decarbonisation. More services could be operated with HVO if the right policies and incentives were in place to enable more customers to make the switch.”
HVO is marketed as one of the world’s purest and greenest fuels. It is synthetically made through the hydro-treatment process from vegetable oils or animal fats which significantly reduces harmful carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxideemissions when used in diesel vehicles and machinery. It is derived from 100% waste products and no virgin products are used in its manufacture.
