A pioneering large-scale biodiesel plant based in Ulster has launched production this month, and is supplying fuel to a leading green charity. The team behind the fuel plant at Laurencetown, near Craigavon, hopes to produce up to 80 tonnes of biodiesel a week to supply mainly public and private company fleets. For the time being, PRS Environmental is producing biodiesel from used vegetable oil on a small scale, and recycling charity Bryson House is piloting the green fuel. Bryson House is a neighbour of the plant and is trying out the fuel in its fleet of recycling vehicles, along with another haulage firm. The finished product is a "green fuel" with an orange appearance, which is low in sulphur emissions and carbon particulates. It is also non-toxic, simple to make and biodegradable.
The industry is set to take off within the next few years, with EU plans to increase its use of biofuels in energy consumption to 5.75% by 2010. Currently, the only problems are from the financial side of the emerging industry and sourcing raw material. As William Porter, a partner in PRS Environmental explains, "We just have to make some money now. At the same time, the figures do not add up." As the price of waste vegetable oil from food processors has been rising in recent months, the company looked into sourcing new oil from Russia, but has now gone back to used oil. Mr Porter also warned that the difference between biodiesel duty in the north and south is deterring any further development of biodiesel plans. "Until there is less of a disparity, anyone contemplating building plants in the north just won't do it."
