Lisburn, Northern Ireland: McCulla has launched its waste-to-energy transport system that has been several years in development.
McCulla Ireland has its own energy division, Alternity Biogas Energy, that includes an anaerobic digester that meets all of McCulla’s energy needs.
The company is also using food waste as feedstock for the biofuel plant, which has been powering its offices and cold stores since 2017. It now also produces bio-methane for use as fuel in the company’s gas-powered trucks.
The transport fleet delivers improved efficiencies and reduces the haulier’s carbon emissions by 93% in comparison to diesel.
Ashley McCulla, chairman, McCulla Ireland, said at a launch event this week: “We are extremely proud to introduce Northern Ireland’s first circular economy waste-to-energy transport fleet.
“Through collaborative partnerships we collect food waste from our customers and process it through our anaerobic digester plant to produce energy. This includes electricity for our cold stores and bio-methane gas for our trucks. These trucks reduce CO2 emissions by 93% in comparison to diesel. We also supply bio-fertiliser to local farms to grow more food. It really is a full circle process that reduces waste to an absolute minimum right across our supply chain.”
“The decision to embark on this project started in 2012 and was primarily driven by my desire to be in control of my own destiny. The logistics industry is very energy intensive with over 40% of our costs coming from electricity and diesel, both of which fluctuate wildly from year to year. With this plant we are now able to manage our biggest costs.
“Northern Ireland has the technical expertise and resources to become energy secure and less dependent on outside influences. If this model was adopted by more companies, the people of Northern Ireland would ultimately benefit,” McCulla said.
