This article first appeared on Fully Loaded (https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/viva-energy-and-cleanaway-combine-for-casey-renewable-diesel-waste-service/) and has been reproduced with permission.
In the City of Casey, Victoria, Viva Energy has launched its 100 per cent renewable diesel product with Cleanaway as the pair trial a new kerbside collection vehicle that’s powered solely with converted cooking oil rather than diesel.
As part of the six-month demonstration, Viva Energy and Cleanaway will partner to showcase the new technology that can play a role in reducing emissions in the Australian transport sector.
The trial involves Cleanaway operating two waste collection trucks with the different fuel in one municipal side-lift service and a front-lift organics collection service.
The fuel used is Viva Energy’s Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), an alternative to fossil fuel-derived diesel that can be made from waste feedstocks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by up to 90 per cent.
“We are proud to support Cleanaway and Viva Energy with the launch of the kerbside collection vehicle powered using low-carbon, diesel alternatives,” City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff says.
“This emission reduction initiative is another step in the right direction in Council’s commitment towards zero net corporate emissions by 2030 in line with our Climate Action Plan.”
The supply of renewable diesel supports Viva Energy’s commitment to help customers reduce their emissions while offering a sustainable alternative to regular diesel.
Viva Energy’s product quality experts are continuing to work with the federal government on the development of a national fuel standard for renewable diesel.
“We are delighted to partner with Cleanaway as our first customer to use renewable diesel,” Viva Energy chief business development and sustainability officer Lachlan Pfeiffer says.
“We see great opportunities for this product to help abate emissions in the transport sector, and potentially a wide range of other diesel-using industries. Renewable diesel is a ‘drop-in’ solution, so businesses do not need to make equipment or infrastructure investments nor changes to the operation of their truck fleet.
“It can also be blended with regular diesel at different ratios or supplied undiluted depending on what decarbonisation goals companies are trying to achieve. At scale, these emissions savings have the potential to make a tangible difference to emissions reduction from on-road transport in Australia.”
Pfeiffer says the Viva Energy carbon solutions team is dedicated to working closely with customers across industries to deliver lower carbon emissions solutions.
Viva Energy’s emissions-reduction partnership with Cleanaway also extends to the New Energies Service Station in Geelong – a hydrogen refuelling facility due to be operational later in 2024.
Cleanaway will operate two hydrogen-powered waste collection vehicles in the Greater Geelong region that use Viva Energy’s hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
“We’re pleased to be launching our HVO100 demonstration, with two vehicles powered by this 100 per cent traceable and renewable fuel that will emit up to 90 per cent less greenhouse gas than regular fossil diesel,” Cleanaway managing director and CEO Mark Schubert says.
“The use of HVO100 in Cleanaway trucks is part of our Blueprint 2030 strategy to reduce the carbon impact of our operations and increase circularity from the material we collect.
“We’re committed to leading our industry with innovative and fit-for-purpose solutions that align with our customers’ goals while driving forward to support the achievement of federal emissions targets.”