Keenan trials first-of-its-kind hybrid vehicle in Aberdeen
National food waste recycling business, Keenan Recycling have launched a trial of its novel hybrid vehicle in Aberdeen, following grant support from Scottish Enterprise.
Designed in collaboration with ULEMCO, specialists in hydrogen solutions for transport fleets, the innovative vehicle substitutes fossil diesel fuel with a novel blend of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and hydrogen gas, resulting in a 98.6% reduction in CO2 emissions*.
Keenan will be using the vehicle to collect food waste before treating it through anaerobic digestion plants to create renewable gas and power. The process enables the company to extract further economic and environmental value from food waste, rather than it being sent to landfill.
In support of the trial Aberdeen City Council is providing Keenan with access to the city’s owned and operated hydrogen refuelling stations.
Rhona Allison, Managing Director of Business Growth at Scottish Enterprise, said: “It’s exciting to see two companies we’ve supported in Keenan Recycling and ULEMCo collaborating on the development of a hybrid refuse vehicle.
"Transportation fleets have a key role to play in helping Scotland meet its net zero emissions commitments, so we’re particularly keen to support innovation in the sector through individual grant awards and initiatives such as the Zero Emissions Heavy Duty Vehicle Innovation Fund.”
Grant Keenan, Managing Director at Keenan Recycling, said: “Getting the trial off the ground has been a real team effort. At Keenan, we are all about helping other businesses achieve their net zero goals through food waste recycling. But absolutely vital to us is ensuring we are hitting our own net zero goals.
"This trial signals the beginning of a series of actions enshrined within our Net Zero Transition Plan. Sustainable, low carbon fuels are a huge part of this and we are excited to see how this phase goes. Ultimately, this will lead us to a roll out of a fully net zero fleet nationwide.”
Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, said: “We are excited to be working on this important initiative to demonstrate the efficacy of this dual fuel approach. Using hydrogen with HVO gives operators of heavy vehicles another practical route to net zero.”
*Calculated using data published by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial strategy
Photo credit: Norman Adams, Aberdeen City Council