|
Veg oil could fuel the fishing fleet |
|
|
|
Thursday, 01 November 2007 |
|
Frying fish in vegetable oil is one thing, but researchers at Penryn
are looking at a revolutionary way to catch them using the stuff.
Staff
at the Camborne School of Mines (CSM), based at the University of
Exeter's Tremough campus, are testing the first commercial fishing boat
to run on bio-diesel made from vegetable oil.
The
environmentally-friendly fuel has been keeping the 30ft Ma Gandole, a
traditional wooden craft rigged for crabbing, going during trials off
the coast near Newlyn.
And if the research proves a success, the
bio-fuel could be used by skippers around the world, bringing a
dramatic reduction in the global-warming carbon dioxide which is
emitted through the use of traditional petrol and diesel.
Project
manager for CSM, Neill Wood, also the boat's skipper, said: "This is
the first time bio-diesel has been used in a commercial fishing vessel
and in future it could be a promising alternative to red diesel, which
is currently used.
"We estimate that if we could convert the
entire fishing fleet in just one local port, such as Newlyn, we could
cut fossil carbon dioxide emissions by up to 9,000 tonnes per year, as
well as seeing potential cost savings.
"This is also another example of Cornwall leading the way in renewable energy developments.
"We
are very excited to be leading this project, which could result in the
UK's fishing fleets using environmentally-friendly bio-fuel."
The
tests should also show whether the fuel can be substituted for
widely-used red diesel without boat owners having to fork out for
engine or storage modifications.
It is made from recycled vegetable oil, mainly sourced from local caterers, including Camborne's Galley fish and chip shop.
Following initial performance tests on land, the trials have been taking place to determine how the fuel fares at sea.
And the results will be presented to industry body Seafish so they can determine the feasibility of it being used nationally.
CSM
offers the UK's first undergraduate degree in renewable energy and is
part of the unique Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative.
The University of Exeter received more than £300,000 funding towards the project from Defra and Objective One.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
 |
