Zurich St. Gallen fire department tests fuel made from old fats and oils

The professional fire department of the city of St. Gallen has launched a pilot project to run some of its vehicles on fuel made from old cooking fats and oils. According to the fire department, this reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent. One liter of the new fuel costs around 40 centimes more than conventional diesel.

The fuel is produced from food waste and used cooking oils, sewage sludge or other organic waste, as the professional fire department of the city of St. Gallen wrote in a press release on Thursday. In addition to a reduction in CO2, the bio-based fuel, known as "Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil" (HVO), also produces fewer harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

HVO is resistant to bacterial infestation and is oxygen-free, the press release continued. The fuel is therefore particularly suitable for vehicles with sometimes long downtimes, such as fire engines. The operating time of a vehicle fueled with HVO is identical to one fueled with fossil diesel. More fuel is expected to be produced in the future, which should reduce the price.

Financial support from the energy fund

The Energy Fund of the City of St.Gallen is providing financial support for the test operation of the professional fire department and, according to the press release, is covering the additional costs for the fuel and the temporary filling station. The new fuel can be used pure or mixed with conventional diesel as required.

The initiative for the project came from Gebäudeversicherung Zürich. Schutz & Rettung Zürich, the Kloten and Wallisellen fire departments and the Männedorf-Uetikon fire department are also involved in the pilot project.

SDA