Supreme Court ruling is ‘opportunity’ for green industry

UK fuel and transport firms say government must grasp opportunity to incentivise new clean transport technology

In light of this week’s Supreme Court ruling that Defra must produce a new air quality plan, UK transport fuel and technology firms have called for greater support to encourage low emission innovations.

Autogas LPG fuel nozzle

Autogas said that the UK had “sleep-walked into the current air quality crisis” and called for government and businesses to support and promote alternative transport fuel solutions.

And, London-based Dearman — which produces zero emission transport refrigeration technology — said the fact that Defra must now send a new air quality plan to the European Commission by the end of 2015 to meet EU nitrogen dioxide limits (see AirQualityNews.com story) was a “positive for companies like ours”.

Autogas

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier Autogas Ltd, a joint venture between petrol firms Shell and Calor, said the Supreme Court judgement was “extremely significant as it backs up the opinion that due to mis-judged government policy and incentives, the UK has sleep-walked into the current air quality crisis”.

A spokesman for the firm said the government was favouring electric vehicles above other transport alternatives, rather than recognising the “full basket” of options available.

The Autogas spokesman said: “Clearly there is not a ‘silver bullet’ solution to the air quality problem as different transport needs do require a range of fuelling solutions. It’s therefore important that the government recognises and regularly talks about the full basket of alternative transport fuels available in equal measures, as well as offering incentives across them all too, rather than favouring one particular type, as is it currently tends towards with electric vehicles.

“Alternative fuel solutions, such as autogas LPG, that will undoubtedly help improve air quality in the UK already exist. We simply need government and businesses, including vehicle manufacturers, to recognise this and start supporting and promoting greater use of them.”

Dearman

Dearman said that addressing the Supreme Court ruling “is clearly going to pose challenges” for the government, but argued that it is also an opportunity to create “thousands of new jobs” and “generate millions of pounds of exports” by encouraging the clean vehicle technology industry.

Dearman’s Cool E zero emission transport refrigeration system

Responding to the judgement, senior group managing director at the London-based firm, Toby Peters, said: “Air pollution kills thousands of people each year and it’s vital that we collectively start to address the challenge. With the right technologies, it is possible to make a significant impact on air quality, without penalising businesses or individuals.

“In particular, this ruling is positive for companies like ours that are developing economically viable zero-emission alternatives to unregulated, polluting auxiliary diesel engines.”

Mr Peters suggested systems such as Dearman’s, which uses liquid nitrogen to deliver zero emission power and cooling as an alternative to “disproportionately polluting” diesel-fuelled refrigeration, should be further encouraged by the government to combat air pollution.

According to Dearman, replacing 13,000 trailers’ diesel refrigeration units with zero-emission systems would prevent 1,800 tonnes of nitrogen oxides from being emitted, which is the equivalent to taking 1.2 million modern diesel cars off the road.

Mr Peters added: “If the government grasps this opportunity and puts the right regulations and incentives in place, then we could see a whole new clean technology industry flourish. In time, that industry could establish thousands of new jobs, generate millions of pounds of exports, as well as help clean up the air we breathe.”

Related Links:

–Autogas Ltd
–Dearman