Report prompts further biodiesel calls from Mayor of London

A new report produced for the Greater London Authority (GLA) by LRS Consultancy has sparked further support from the Mayor of London to entice the biodiesel industry into the capital.

After reviewing The market for biodiesel production from used cooking oils and fats, oils and greases in London, Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: ‘By capturing used cooking oil right here in London and turning it into biodiesel we could provide 20% of the fuel needed to power London’s entire bus fleet, while saving more than 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ and creating hundreds of new jobs.’

LRS also supported the GLA by facilitating a biodiesel workshop at City Hall, bringing together stakeholders from across the supply chain from waste producers, collectors, reprocessors, manufacturers and potential buyers.

‘Our research shows London has the highest concentration of food businesses in the UK, producing between 32 and 44 million litres of used cooking oil every year,’ adds LRS principle consultant Hugh Smith. ‘There were positive conversations and we hope to see some developments in the near future.’

The vast majority of the biodiesel produced in the UK is currently coming from the north of England and Scotland.  Mayor Johnson’s vision is to help deliver the capital’s first biofuel refinery which will be able to tap in to the huge potential for biodiesel in London.