A Welsh university is experimenting with a novel way to save the environment by using the waste cooking oil from its kitchens to run campus vehicles and machinery.
The University of Wales, Newport, has been processing and using the eco-friendly fuel for two months. It has been used to power maintenance vehicles such as road sweepers and tractors and also to run generators.
In the future, the University hopes to expand its usage to its fleet of vans and minibuses.
The new bio-fuel takes approximately two days to convert from the used cooking oil at the on-site processing plant, and is compatible with all existing engines.
According to the University’s environmental officer, Matthew Bellamy, the new fuel is not only more cost effective but creates considerably less carbon dioxide.
Bellamy explained: “So far we have been producing agricultural-use diesel for 16p per litre whereas it costs up to 38p per litre from a supplier.
“It should amount to an initial annual saving of about £1000.”
He continued: “This process has many environmental benefits including minimising the University’s emissions of green house gasses…we estimate a saving of some 20 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
“Previously, most of the cooking oil would end up in land refill sites.”
Cardiff University also converts the cooking oil from its cafes and four restaurant kitchens, although it currently does not possess the facilities to do this on campus.
Talking to gair rhydd on the issue of eco-friendly initiatives, Cardiff University said: “The [cooking oil conversion] programme is one of several measures introduced by the University’s Energy Steering Group, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, to further improve the University’s environmental performance.
“Another measure has been the introduction of staff and student eco-champions to represent their respective schools and divisions. Some 40 eco-champions have joined the scheme, with responsibility for raising awareness of environmental issues among their colleagues and helping reduce energy and water consumption.”
