Vegetable oil will be used to power vehicles at East Midlands Airport, helping reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%.
As World Environment Day is marked today, more than 60 vehicles involved in airport operations are now running on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel. These include airfield operations and security team vehicles, fire trucks and snow clearing vehicles.
The airport has worked with HVO supplier YourNRG to bring about the change, which comes as its parent company, Manchester Airports Group, launches its five-year Sustainability Strategy, ‘Creating a sustainable future for all.’ This pledges to transition its airports – Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands – to zero carbon operations by 2038.
East Midlands Airport has been carbon neutral since 2012 by implementing a range of measures at the site, including installing commercial grade wind turbines, using 100% electricity from renewable sources, diverting 100% of its waste from landfill, and using car parking revenue to improve public transport options to access the site, as well as installing EV charging points for electric vehicles using the airfield, including two new electric ‘ambulifts’ which transport customers with mobility issues to aircraft.
HVO involves waste vegetable oils and fats undergoing a hydrogen treatment to be turned into renewable fuel which reduces carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil diesel. It also drastically lowers particulate emissions and is biodegradable, making it eco-friendly and safe for the environment.
East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, Steve Griffiths, said: “We are always looking at ways to reduce our impact on the environment, with the aim of hitting Manchester Airport Group’s target of achieving net zero operations by 2038.
“Working with YourNRG to convert our fleet of ground vehicles is a great step forward, with significant emissions reductions and other environmental benefits.”
Lee Reason, Commercial Director at Your NRG, said: “We’re proud to support East Midlands Airport on its journey toward decarbonisation. By transitioning their operational fleet to HVO Fuel, they’ve taken a major step in reducing emissions without compromising on performance.
“It’s a powerful example of how sustainable alternatives can deliver real impact today. As more organisations commit to ambitious climate goals, HVO Fuel offers a practical, low-carbon solution to help get them there faster.”
