East Anglia Press Releases for the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads with Press Releases and Articles from the Broads Authority in East Anglia, and the East of England UK.

Forty holiday motor cruisers from eight boatyards will be trialling bio-diesel by next year as part of a major, two-year project by the Broads Hire Boat Federation.

Three boatyards have already started using the fuel, with nine of their craft using 100% biodiesel. Similar "control" boats will be part of the tests, using normal diesel fuel, for performance comparison research. The biodiesel is manufactured by Global Commodities of Dereham from recycled vegetable oils, making it very valuable in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

As part of the project the engine emissions from two cruisers were tested last week to find out how much cleaner the bio-diesel is than conventional fuel. Researchers from Newcastle University carried out these tests and the results, to be published next month, will provide positive evidence of the benefits of the fuel.

The environmentally friendly fuel has been the subject of earlier research in this country and the USA, and evidence suggests that it has many positive effects. Since biodiesel is made entirely from vegetable oil it does not contain any sulphur, aromatic hydrocarbons, metals or crude oil residues. The lack of toxic and carcinogenic aromatics and the fact that the fuel burns more cleanly, giving lower 'soot' and CO emissions, means that the combustion gases have a reduced effect on human health. The detailed testing that is being carried out by Newcastle University will quantify all these benefits.

The Broads is the first place in the UK to use substantial quantities of this type of fuel in boats and, with growing interest from visitors wishing to enjoy the natural environment without causing damage, it should help to encourage sustainable growth in the holiday trade.

Unfortunately, at present, the price of biodiesel is higher than fossil diesel so financial support for the tests has been necessary. The sum of £43,000 of the total project costs of £72,300 is being provided by the Broads Authority's Sustainable Development Fund, with grant aid from DEFRA. However, as the price of conventional fuel rises, any tax incentives introduced for bio-fuels may well make bio-diesel financially attractive and the experience gained from the project will encourage much wider use.

Broads Hire Boat Federation Chairman, Ken Gaylard said,

"We are extremely pleased to be involved in this practical research project on the Broads. When evaluated at the end of the two year period, we expect that these trials will point the way towards an environmentally friendly power source for Broads boats at an affordable price."

Eight boatyards are participating in the trial:
Faircraft Loynes, Wroxham
Alexander Cruisers, Brundall
Sabena Marine, Hoveton
Barnes Brinkcraft, Hoveton,
Connoisseur Cruisers, Wroxham
Silverline Marine, Brundall
City Boats, Thorpe
Eastwood Whelpton, Upton

Reproduced by kind permission of Broads Authority.