Centennial Parklands goes 'green' with biodiesel

by Centennial Parklands
04/04/2012

The Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust (Trust) on-road and machinery fleet of 26 vehicles is now running on an environmentally friendly and renewable fuel source – B20 Biodiesel.

B20 is a soy bean-based biodiesel blend that is 20 per cent soy bean mixture and 80 per cent fossil diesel.

Kim Ellis, Director and Chief Executive of the Trust said “We are taking a responsible and sustainable environmental step towards becoming an environmental leader in the parks industry. By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and powering our vehicles with a renewable fuel source, we will not only improve our green footprint but reduce our carbon emissions by 20 per cent a year.”

“There was no large infrastructure upgrades required to change over and the cost to purchase the biodiesel is the same as normal diesel. The decision to switch over was an easy one due to the positive environmental benefits and the green leadership practices we wanted to implement here in the Parklands.”

“B20 produces less greenhouse gases than regular diesel and it enhances engine quality and performance of vehicles so it keeps our vehicle maintenance costs down. The money we save goes back into the maintenance and up-keep of the Parklands – where it is needed the most,” said Mr Ellis.

Soybeans are grown for high protein animal feed (soybean meal). The soybean oil is removed during this process as a waste product and converted to a fuel that can be directly substituted for petroleum diesel. Is it essentially free of sulphur and aromatics.

Using B20 conserves Australia’s fuel reserves and reduces oil imports as it is Australian made. The B20 conforms to the Australian Diesel standard and is aligned to the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.

“The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in course of time as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time.” Rudolph Diesel, 1912.

Further information

For more information visit www.centennialparklands.com.au or phone the Parklands Office on (02) 9339 6699.

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