Dublin Airport Cuts Vehicle Emissions By 90% After Swapping Diesel for Vegetable Oil

Dublin Airport has achieved a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from its airside vehicles by switching from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).

HVO is now being used to power a total of 101 vehicles – 46% of the airside fleet at Dublin Airport – which will save 400 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum. The switch follows the roll-out of a successful trial in April and May this year, involving 12 vehicles, which led to a 90% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the use of diesel.

HVO is a low-carbon biofuel made from plant waste, oils and fats making it a more sustainable and lower-carbon option to power airport vehicles.

Dublin Airport is aiming for around two thirds of its vehicles to be powered by HVO by the end of this year (around 150 vehicles). This is in addition to the commitment made to transition the airport’s entire light fleet to electric vehicles by 2025.

According to Andrea Carroll, Head of Environment Sustainability at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport: “Switching to HVO is another positive step on Dublin Airport’s journey to becoming a net zero carbon business by 2050. HVO is a low carbon alternative to electrification, which is particularly helpful when it comes to larger vehicles that may not currently have an electric alternative, such as tractors. By changing diesel vehicles to HVO, Dublin Airport will save 400 tonnes of carbon emissions annually – the equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of 72 average Irish homes.

“In addition to carbon savings, the switch to HVO provides many other benefits, given it doesn’t require any additional infrastructural investment as all existing diesel tanks and engines can be used. HVO is also proven to work better in colder temperatures (down to -30 degrees Celsius), making it more reliable in the winter months,” added Andrea Carroll.