Britain’s first dual fuel bus will cut emissions by half

A consortium brought together by low-carbon experts at the University of East Anglia has launched the first bus in the UK to run on clean, biomethane gas. The innovative dual-fuel diesel-biomethane powered bus will reduce pollutant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions by around a half. It is hoped the technology will be rolled out to bus fleets across the country and further afield.

The consortium behind the new bus is led by UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Centre (LCIC) and includes leading independent bus operator Anglian Bus, bus manufacturer Optare plc, and engine conversion specialists Hardstaff Group of Nottingham.

The dual-fuel vehicle is a standard Optare Solo single-deck diesel midibus from the Anglian Bus fleet. Originally powered entirely by diesel, the Mercedes-Benz engine has been adapted to run for 60-80% of the time on clean, low-carbon biomethane. Biomethane is chemically identical to the methane in natural gas but it is made by bacterial action on biowastes. Biomethane is extracted from landfill sites or from biogas produced in purpose-built anaerobic digestion facilities.

Project leader Dr Bruce Tofield, of UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Centre, says: ‘Dual-fuel use is a very attractive option. The vehicle can still run on diesel, providing flexibility, but most of the time is running on biomethane gas which is a much cleaner and less polluting fuel.

‘In particular, the cost of conversion of a diesel bus to dual-fuel use is a small fraction of the cost of a new natural gas bus. Conversion to dual-fuel use is potentially a viable option for most if not all diesel buses in the UK and, indeed, across Europe and more widely.’

Funding for the project came partly from an EU-sponsored Civitas programme in which UEA and Anglian Bus were partners with Norwich, Norfolk County Council and cities across Europe. The Civitas Initiative exists to promote cleaner and better transport in Europe’s cities.

LCIC scientists have been monitoring air pollution in Norwich since 2005 as part of the Civitas programme. In Norwich, as in many UK cities, emissions from buses are of particular concern. They noticed how the buses in Malmo in Sweden, a partner city in the Civitas programme, were powered by clean natural gas (methane), resulting in significantly lower levels of harmful emissions. Of special interest was the fact that Malmo was beginning to use biomethane rather than natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as pollutant emissions.

‘This conversion shows just how important EU projects can be in helping us learn from what cities elsewhere have done,’ says Dr Tofield. ‘Now we are going one step further and showing how existing bus fleets can be economically converted to low-carbon, low-emissions running. The potential for reducing traffic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from buses and other fleet vehicles in cities in Britain, Europe, and across the world is very exciting.’

From: http://www.eei-online.com/news.php?key=2370 

Norwich ’should get bike hire’

Bicycles for the public to rent could be dotted around Norwich if Liberal Democrat councillors get their way.

Lib Dems on the city council have suggested a citywide bicycle rental scheme modelled on the projects in Barcelona and Paris.

OYBikes, which already has rental schemes in London, Cheltenham and Reading is to visit Norwich City Hall tomorrow (October 14th).

Judith Lubbock, councillor for Eaton Ward, told the Norwich Evening News that the city should capitalise on rising cycling rates.

"We should be building on these figures and finding new ways to encourage more cycling," she said. "It is a good way to get about in the city, it keeps you fit both physically and mentally and it is cheap."

Boosting the number of journeys made by bicycle instead of car could reduce air pollution in the area.

She added that she would like to see hire points at the Railway Station, the Bus Station, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, University of East Anglia, Norwich College and Park and Ride sites.

The OYBike system sees bikes chained to a special bike stand with a lock operated by a LCD screen and keyboard. Registered users call the OYBike call centre citing the number on the lock display and are sent a pin code to release the bicycle.

Upon returning the bike to an OYBike hire stand, the user is given a pin to send the company indicating their rental period has come to an end.

The city council leader Steven Morphew has said that the problem could be finding funding for the scheme.

Air pollution targeted by travel plans

A scheme to reduce pollution and emissions while making residents healthier is to be launched in Lowestoft this month.

The initiative, suggested by transport charity Sustrans, will see 25,000 households receive advice and travel plans to make better use of public transport and walking and cycling routes.

TravelSmart Lowestoft will contact people by phone or in their home to offer advice on how to travel to reduce congestion.

They will be offered cycling and walking maps, public transport time tables and can get bicycle safety training.

Using £45,000 lottery money Sustrans and local councils will launch the scheme in Oulton, Oulton Broad and Normanston.

Rachel Purdy, of Sustrans, said: "TravelSmart Lowestoft can help people beat the queues by offering them realistic alternatives to using their cars for some of their everyday journeys."

Travel plans are becoming increasingly popular. One developer in Canterbury is offering new residents a low-carbon travel pack upon arrival which includes a discount on bicycles and public transport.

Air pollution control firm reaches £1m sales

A Cambridge-based air pollution control firm has exceeded the £1 million sales mark over the past 12 months.

Air Protekt won four emission control contracts on its way to the landmark, including the installation of Regenerative Thermal Oxidation (RTO) systems.

The firm, established in 1994 from the environmental products business of Johnson Matthey, supplied SGL Tehcnic’s carbon manufacturing facility near Inverness with an RTO system and a Selective Catalytic Reduction system.

Air Protekt is the only UK distributor of Luftechnik Bayreuth GmbH RTOs, which it also supplied to Johnson Controls’ car seat facility in the West Midlands.

Two other contracts, including for Honeycat laminate film manufacturing facility in Essex, helped the firm reach the £1 million sales mark.

"We have had a good year in terms of extending our UK user installed base. Ironically it has been the knowledge we have gained working on overseas air pollution projects that has given our UK sales drive a boost," said Trevor Lawton, Air Protekt’s managing director.

"We find that most manufacturing groups operate facilities worldwide and prefer to implement air pollution control systems and strategies that can be replicated at their sister sites around the globe."

Carbon cutter gets Queen’s Award

A Norfolk firm that helps cut air pollution and carbon emissions has been recognised with a Queen’s Award on the occasion of the monarch’s birthday.

Liftshare, an online company that matches people doing the same journey so they can share a lift, received the innovation award for its work which has helped cut 50 million car miles.

Members can save up to £1,000 a year while cutting their carbon emissions by one tonne by signing up to the scheme and pooling their rides. There are over 220,000 people signed up to the service.

The firm also helps businesses organise schemes, with over 1,000 organisations large and small using the company to set up projects for its employees.

Founder Ali Clabburn said: "Sustainable innovation is what Liftshare is all about and a Queen’s Award really encapsulates what we are trying to achieve.

"Our high standards and the effectiveness of our journey matching software have earned us a reputation as car share pioneers not only within the UK but globally.

"The Queen’s Award will give us a massive boost in building our reputation both at home and abroad."

Along with capacitor firm Syfer and STG Aerospace, Liftshare became the first Norfolk firm to earn a Quee’s Award in four years.

Buses refurbished to cut air pollution and emissions

A bus operator company is to refurbish 15 vehicles in a bid to cut air pollution and curb emissions in Norwich.

The operator First is to refurbish a set of buses as part of an initiative with Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council to cut emissions in Castle Meadow, where a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has been set up.

A spokesman for First told the Norwich Evening News: "We are investing in the refurbishment of a number of our buses. In this particular instance, 15 of our buses will undergo both interior and exterior improvements. No services will be affected as a result of this improvement programme but the result will be a more pleasurable travelling experience for our passengers"

Adrian Ramsay, co-ordinator of the Green part at Norwich City Hall, said: "I welcome any measures that improve air-quality and reduce pollution, it is a real issue in the city, we also need to look at ways of getting more people on the buses, perhaps by reducing prices."

As well as the LEZ, the city and county councils enacted an engine switch off scheme, which sees taxi drivers and busses fined £60 if they do not turn off their motors while they are waiting.

Environmental talks over north Kent tunnel

A business group which is planning to build a tunnel under the Thames has insisted that environmental issues such as noise pollution and air pollution can be solved.

MetroTidal Ltd plans to build a £4 billion underwater link between Medway and Canvey Island at some point in the near future.

But concerns have been raised by environmental groups over the damage it could potentially cause to the surrounding area.

Speaking to the BBC, director of MetroTidal Mark Willingdale said: "I don’t want to deny the sensitivity of the issues but as it’s a tunnel the actual breadth of the corridor affected is something like 60 metres.

"Once it’s all back in position the lights, the noise, the fumes can be controlled so it’s really a matter of how it’s done and what are the impacts at the end of the works."

Plans for the tunnel were originally revealed in February when they were submitted to the Department for Transport and the Environment Agency.

Children urged to get on their bikes

Air pollution in north-east England looks set to be reduced under a new scheme which is urging children – and their parents – to cycle more.

The government is pledging more than £550,000 to the area, which is to be used to train youngsters to cycle and encourage adults to join them.

Transport minister Rosie Winterton said that cycling "encourages healthier lifestyles" for children and parents.

She added: "At the same time congestion is getting worse. If parents can be satisfied their children can cycle safely they are more likely to let them use their bikes.

"And getting children cycling could even encourage their parents to dust off their own bikes."

The training will not only teach children how to ride a bike but also give them essential skills needed to stay safe on the roads.

Increasing the number of pupils who cycle to school will not only reduce traffic on the roads of north-east England but will also reduce air pollution in the area.

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