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Port pulls biodiesel plan for machinery

Steven Walton

Lyttelton Port has abandoned plans to power its machinery and vehicles with biodiesel, but it still hopes to replace diesel-guzzling equipment with electricity one day.

After eight months of in-house feasibility work, the Christchurch City Council-owned port found there was simply not enough biodiesel available to make the switch. It also found engines in some of its machinery were not recommended for biodiesel.

The port hoped to reduce emissions by transitioning vehicles and machinery – like container straddles, coal-handling equipment, harbour tugs, trucks and utes – to the clean-burning diesel alternative.

In the past year, the port consumed 2.8 million litres of mineral diesel, which was ultimately responsible for nearly 80% of the port’s carbon emissions.

While the port is no longer pursuing biodiesel, it is now investigating electrification of its equipment.

Lyttelton Port chief corporate affairs officer Phil de Joux said the port remained committed to its target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Biodiesel is generally manufactured from waste vegetable cooking oils or animal tallows.

The port’s eight months of feasibility work on biodiesel assessed a range of blends, de Joux said, including a mixture with 5% biodiesel and 20% biodiesel.

But there was simply not enough biodiesel available locally for a consistent supply – and importing it would create extra emissions, thus defeating the purpose of the switch, he said.

Some of the port’s latest generation diesel engines – such as those powering the port’s seven newest container straddles – were also not recommended for biodiesel by the engine manufacturer, he said.

‘‘We found that it would not be feasible to transition our fleet or move forward with trialling biodiesel.’’

The port reported this decision to its owner, the Christchurch City Council, late last year. A biodiesel trial was a ‘‘carbon reduction’’ expectation set by the council and agreed by the port in official governance documents.

De Joux said the port was committed to reducing emissions and using resources more efficiently.

Its efforts would not only include biodiesel, but electric-powered equipment and hydrogen fuel cell technologies, he said.

Business

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2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281771338325390

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