The Journey to Net Zero

By Colin Duke, Head of Sales at Argent Energy

First of all, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Colin Duke. I work at Argent Energy, and I am delighted that Argent have recently become members of RFG. If you haven’t heard of us, we’re the UK’s leading refiner of biodiesel produced from wastes and our mission is to help decarbonise transport worldwide. We have two manufacturing sites in the UK and one in Amsterdam with a total output in excess of 240,000 mt of biodiesel which will soon quadruple in volume.

So, I’m here to talk about decarbonisation and to debunk any myths you might have already heard about biodiesel. Reducing your carbon footprint is a challenge everyone is facing, and an increasingly more important topic in the rail industry. Although much of the UK’s rail network has been electrified, there is still a substantial amount of both passenger and freight traffic powered by diesel locomotives. The transport sector in Europe contributes to 25% of all GHG emissions, making the decarbonisation of transport perhaps the most important aspect of reducing the world’s carbon footprint.

When thinking about reducing carbon emissions, we immediately look to the fuel we use. There are many options available to decarbonise, however there is no silver bullet currently. So, the big question is, how do we find a solution that works efficiently, is cost effective, available today and is good for our planet at the same time?

The end game for railways may indeed be electrification or even hydrogen power, and these are important options that should be looked at when considering sustainable solutions.

For the here and now, companies like Argent offer an immediate solution to reduce the carbon footprint of your diesel-powered rail network today. An option that is indeed cost effective. By introducing High Blend Biodiesel, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 20-40% or more. It may be a small step towards zero emissions, however this carbon reduction can be achieved today, whilst we are waiting for the silver bullet.

The great thing about high blend fuel is that it will work in existing diesel engines, meaning that there is very little to do when using it as a drop-in replacement. This makes it one of the simplest ways to decarbonise.

There have already been trials done on test beds and for routes that are difficult to electrify it seems like the obvious and quickest solution.

With minimal inconvenience and significant opportunity to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, transitioning onto High Blend fuel can help deliver your sustainability goals!

If you’re interested in hearing more about alternative fuel options and how we can help reduce your carbon footprint, or have any queries, feel free to get in touch.