Member Article

North East expansion for biofuel network

A rapidly growing network of independent garages in the region selling ‘green’ fuels has reached its most urban garage forecourt to date. Wideopen Service Station on Great North Road, just outside of Newcastle, is the latest garage to join the One Green Route network – a region-wide initiative which promotes take up of bio-diesel made with vegetable oils.

The fuel is a blend of 95% diesel, with up to 5% biodiesel made from a variety of sources, including rape seed oil, which is a key sustainable crop for farmers in the North East. Unlike normal diesel fuel, biodiesel is said to contribute less to global warming and climate change.

The One Green Route initiative was established two years ago by regional development agency One NorthEast and North East Biofuels. The initiative aims to establish a North East network of 30 independent garages over the next two years selling environmentally friendly fuel.

Michael Fozard, owner of Wideopen Service Station, said: “I’m delighted to be contributing to such an important initiative in the North East. We are responding to consumer demand for fuels that do less harm to the environment.’’

In addition to the roll out of the One Green Route, North East Biofuels is also working on the development of a seed crushing plant that will take oil seed from regional farmers and supply high quality oil ready for refining into road transport fuel and energy crop for power generation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .