The EGGER Group are an international multi-billion euro company with 20 plants in 10 countries manufacturing all types of wood-based materials from furniture and flooring to interiors and construction materials. EGGER’s Barony plant in Ayrshire, Scotland produces approximately 400,000m3 of raw chipboard per annum for customers across the UK and Europe. To manufacture in such vast quantities, EGGER employs a myriad of machinery including HGVs, excavators, sawmills, generators and various mobile plant machinery. The EGGER Group are very concerned about corporate sustainability and aims to improve their carbon footprint in all their processes, from selectively sourcing wood from reputable suppliers to investing in a wood processing recycling plant and biomass energy plant powered by the waste wood within the Barony plant.
REMOVAL OF REBATED RED DIESEL FOR EGGER
With legislation changes from 1st April 2022 on who could access rebated diesel, the company had to use their stock of red diesel and find an alternative fuel before the deadline. This gave the company the opportunity to switch from powering their machinery with fossil fuels to using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO). HVO is a renewable, sustainable, fossil-free biofuel deriving from certified waste products such as vegetable oils and animal fats. Graeme Barrass, the Engineering Manager for EGGER’s Barony plant explained that they used around 1,000 litres of diesel each day at the plant. With HVO’s excellent low-carbon properties, the switch from diesel to HVO means a huge reduction in GHG CO2 emissions from 3.6 tonnes to just 195kg. As explained in our Expert guide to HVO fuel tanks, it’s not just the environment that will benefit from the change, but the machinery itself. For example, HVO’s clean-burning properties reduce particulate production by up to 84%. This means engines are cleaner while emission control systems and engine oils see a prolonged lifetime.
Rather than using the existing vertical cylindrical tank to store HVO, it was decided to invest in a new fuel tank to avoid any contamination between the HVO and any red dye or diesel bug still residing in the cylindrical tank. This left the old tank free for storing kerosene heating oil to reduce gas usage.
TUFF COMPETITION FOR NEW HVO FUEL TANK
While researching fuel tanks compatible with HVO, Graeme contacted us in January 2022 and received a quote on our standard 30,000L and 40,000L fuel tanks. However, with limitations on space, they opted for a bespoke 35,000L steel bunded fuel storage tank with a high-security cabinet complete with a roller shutter door safely housing the outlet and C2020 contents gauge with bund alarm. Obtaining the highest capacity tank possible to fit into the existing site was vital to achieving fuel security and lower prices. As well as providing accurate readings in percentage and volume in litres, the tank’s gauge was set up to send a low-level alert to the fuel suppliers so resupplying the tank was an automatic process. With 30,000L deliveries at a time, the Egger group was also guaranteed the best incremental discounts for bulk buying their HVO.
Graeme explained that they also considered purchasing a secondhand tank but the lack of warranty and uncertainty about the structural integrity of the tank were unacceptable drawbacks. Tuffa also came up against another popular steel fuel tank manufacturer. While Graeme admits our prices were a little higher, it was the superior construction of our tank and ability to manufacture in steel and plastic that won the order. Our primary tank and bund are a higher specification as standard, are fabricated using a thicker than average steel and the bund extends to the tank’s base instead of having a ‘common bottom’ where the plates touch. Upon request, we also had the tank painted in Goosewing Grey to fit in with the plant’s colour scheme.
With the large steel tank ordered but installation arranged for just after the 1st April deadline to switch from red diesel, Eggers Group decided to purchase a temporary fuel storage tank giving them ample time to plan for the legislation changes. As the Barony site already had a masonry open bund, the most economical option was purchasing one of our 20,000L plastic single skin tanks with a Watchman Sonic to detect fuel levels. Quick lead times on plastic tanks meant it was delivered around one week after ordering and was swiftly installed ready to store the first HVO order.
TICKING ALL THE BOXES
The 35,000L steel bunded HVO storage tank arrived on site at the end of March and was crane-lifted into position. Installation was simple, requiring a concrete base and final 230V connection. EGGER Barony is now arranging for a new dispensing bay to be constructed ready to fuel the site’s fleet of vehicles. We caught up with Graeme to check he was happy with our work and service:
“Everything has been perfect from the initial enquiry with Dee to arranging transport with Amy and the delivery driver was super-helpful and a credit to his company. The new HVO tank ticks all the boxes for the environment and further reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.”
Tuffa’s Marketing Manager Charlie Goring explains why we think HVO usage can only increase “While EV technology is advancing rapidly battery limitations mean it’s not necessarily a viable solution for heavy vehicles and there is a long way to get hydrogen-powered vehicles and the required infrastructure ready for the mass market. Comparatively, HVO is a drop-in alternative to diesel offering immediate and substantial reductions in carbon helping us to meet emissions targets today. We’re seeing increasing interest in HVO and are proud to help decarbonise the fuel industry as the number of our HVO tanks in the field escalates. With UKIFDA and OFTEC leading the charge to get HVO approved and incentivised as a low-carbon kerosene alternative, uptake will only increase and companies like EGGER can further reduce their carbon footprint.”
Looking for fuel storage and dispensing or considering the switch to HVO? Check out our range of HVO compatible fuel tanks available in steel or plastic and storage only or with dispensing equipment.
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