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| Jim Walker, managing director or Argent Energy, shows Stewart Stevenson MSP, Scottish Climate Change Minster, around the plant. |
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10 March 2009
The potential for government to work with local authorities to improve recycling of waste fats and oils was explored as Stewart Stevenson, MSP, Scottish Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, visited biodiesel producer, Argent Energy.
The visit to the plant near Motherwell provided the opportunity for Argent Energy to demonstrate how they make biodiesel, an environmentally-friendly transport fuel, by recycling tallow and used cooking oil.
Jim Walker, managing director of Argent Energy, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to see our operation. Scotland has led the way for the rest of the UK in the production and use of biodiesel. And the Scottish government has been tremendously supportive.
“This administration has made clear its ambitions to reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint; to encourage the use of alternative road fuels, particularly by public sector vehicles, and to encourage the public sector to lead the way in best practice. We believe that the visit has given the Minister significant food for thought on how our pioneering technology can help deliver real progress towards these objectives.”
As part of the visit, Argent discussed with the minister the potential for more used cooking oil to be collected from Scottish homes and businesses through Council recycling schemes.
Jim Walker explained: “Too much of the oil used to cook food in our homes and restaurants ends up going down the drain or into the bin. But in some other countries, for example Austria, recycling domestic cooking oil is as commonplace as our regular paper, card and glass uplifts.
“We would like to see more domestic collection facilities established and more done to stop businesses clogging up our drains with waste oil and fat.
“Government can provide a lead by working with councils to achieve this.
“As an example, we are already involved in a three way partnership where Stagecoach, the Scottish-based bus and coach operator, has encouraged passengers to recycle their domestic used cooking oil via East Ayrshire Council in return for discounted bus travel. We then turn that into biodiesel which is then used to fuel some of Stagecoach buses.
“As a company we also want to do more to achieve a cleaner, greener Scotland. Currently a lot of the used cooking oil we process comes from south of the border where it is pre-processed ready to go into our biodiesel production plant. We want to develop our capability to use more locally-sourced used cooking oil and so reduce the distance our raw material has to travel.”
Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “Argent Energy is making a vital contribution to the development of low carbon emissions technologies, demonstrating the opportunities that exist for Scottish companies to capitalise on a greener future.
“In December last year we laid before Parliament the most ambitious climate change bill anywhere in the world and innovative technologies like those developed by Argent can help us reach us our 80% emissions reduction target. In addition to our efforts to encourage drivers out of their cars, and on to more sustainable forms of travel, we also need to encourage the development and use of emerging low carbon technologies and sustainable alternative fuels.
"In these challenging economic times we need to pursue every possible opportunity we have to create wealth. Our central purpose, to increase sustainable economic growth, commits us to supporting an economy that respects our environment and natural resources.”
Ends
Notes:
- Argent Energy’s biodiesel plant has been producing biodiesel since March 2005 and can produce around 45,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year, or in excess of 50 million litres.
- Legislation is now in place which requires 3.25 per cent of fuel sold at UK forecourts to come from renewable sources, with the percentage rising to 5 per cent by 2013/2014. And the UK has signed up to an EU target of 10 per cent by 2020.
- Biodiesel is most commonly available in a blend of 5 per cent biodiesel to 95 per cent mineral diesel and that requires no changes to vehicles or to supply chain logistics. But higher percentage blends are increasingly popular and Argent Energy has worked with Stagecoach, the Scottish-based bus and coach operator, to successfully demonstrate the use of 100 per cent pure biodiesel.
- The SNP Manifesto for the 2007 election pledged to: “put forward as the starting point for discussion a twin target of a 100% use of alternative fuels by public sector vehicles by 2020 combined with a national target of 30% for other road users”.
For further information contact: Maria Limonci, Argent Energy Public Relations Consultant,
t: 01560 482683, m: 07753 163186.
