2016

Finland Uses Wood-based Diesel to Run Buses

Attēls: www.upm.fi

Finnish wood processing company UPM in cooperation with Helsinki Region Transport Authority and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has started testing wood-based diesel on coaches running between the city of Kerava and Helsinki. The aim of the initiative is to replace the fossil fuels with advanced low emission level biofuels, thereby creating more environmental-friendly public transport.

Renewable diesel “UPM BioVerno” tests are carried out by using four identical “Volvo Euro” VI class buses with efficient, low emission engines. Two buses are run on renewable diesel and other two – on fossil diesel. During the research, VTT Technical Research Centre and bus manufacturer “Volvo” will check the technical condition of the buses.

Diesel “UPM BioVerno” has already been studied in various engine and vehicle tests, which were carried out in different research centers and their own transportation fleet checks. So far, all the results have been outstanding. The study shows that “UPM BioVerno” is top quality diesel fuel and significantly reduces exhaust emissions in comparison to the traditional fossil diesel fuel.

Attēls: www.upm.fi

The project was launched with an objective to examine the new, wood-based diesel and replace fossil fuels with progressive low emission level biofuels, thereby creating more environmental-friendly public transport. The project is implemented in cooperation with Helsinki Region Transport Authority and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus – VTT).

Helsinki Region Transport HSL intends to reduce the CO2 emission level by 90% in Helsinki Region public transport by 2025. This can be accomplished if by 2020 all buses that run on diesel have switched to renewable diesel. Similar goals are set in many EU cities.