Sustainable biofuels are now a reality

As increasing numbers of environmental and emissions targets are set by the Government and EU Commission, one company has claimed it can and is producing a truly sustainable biofuel.

This statement is in sharp contrast to comments made by George Monbiot who, writing in The Guardian this week, claimed apart from chip fat ‘there is no such thing as a sustainable biofuel’.

Regenatec who formed a partnership with CleanStar in October 2007 are quite convinced they can prove him and other sceptics wrong.

Quite simply the proof needed is of a working fuel system that works with existing vehicles and runs on fuel from plants grown ethically and sustainably, ideally on land that does not encroach on existing agricultural land.

This might seem like a tall order, but Regenatec director Mike Lawton, an engineer by trade was not deterred.

Mr Lawton was inspired to convert his car from a diesel to a pure plant oil car after numerous long distance journeys were costing him hundreds of pounds in fuel bills. He saved himself a substantial amount of money as well as reducing his carbon footprint by at least 80%, which is four times the government target for 2020.

Mr Lawton and his team at Regenatec, went on to develop the technology and applied it to trucks, buses and even boats. The technology can be fitted by one of Regenatec's approved fitting centres or, after training, can be fitted by a customer’s in-house mechanics. Regenatec also supply their commercial customers with bulk volumes of ethically sourced and sustainably produced plant oils such as rape seed oil and soya oil.

Using ethically sourced and sustainably produced soya and rape seed delivers significant benefits but they are still food crops. In October 2007 Regenatec joined forces with CleanStar, the producers of oil from a plant called Jatropha

The resultant organisation, known as RegenaStar, intends to be the first social, ethical and true sustainable biofuel business. RegenaStar combines the world class agro-biology skills of CleanStar with those of multi-award winning technology based Regenatec.

Jatrophia produces inedible oil and hence so far had not been cultivated. It likes to grow in arid climates, like India, Africa and the Middle East and thrives on uncultivated scrubland. Not only should it return wealth to some very poor parts of India, but it should also be cheaper than food based oils as well as deliver the carbon footprint reduction. 
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Transport and Major Work Manager

Slough Borough Council
£54,556 to £60,085 per year Inclusive of Local Weighting Allowance of £1096
Drive the future of transport and infrastructure in Slough Slough, Berkshire
Recuriter: Slough Borough Council

Restorative Justice Practitioner

Essex County Council
£26284.00 - £33256.00 per annum + pension
Restorative Justice PractitionerPermanent, Full Time£26,284 up to £33,256 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Events Administrator - Harlow District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £14.8800 per hour
Events Administrator - Harlow District CouncilHarlow District CouncilTemporary, Full Time£14.88 ph PAYELocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Adults Social Worker - South Essex (Various Teams)

Essex County Council
£38487 - £51834 per annum
We're an adult social care service that wants to see citizens of Essex have as much choice and control over the way they live their lives as possible England, Essex, Basildon
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Autism Training Coodinator

Essex County Council
£48121.0000 - £56612.0000 per annum
Autism Training CoodinatorFixed Term, Full Time£48,121 to £56,612 Per Annum Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner