DfT highlight the fuels behind the future of green transport,

· technological advances towards net-zero to be made through 4 new UK-based advanced biofuel plants

· pioneering projects will receive government funding and could lead to greener flights and road freight

· latest move in the government’s green transport revolution, following the launch of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan which will help drive the UK towards its 2050 net zero target

Household waste, unused straw from farmland and old wood will be amongst the unusual components used by 4 world-leading UK-based plants to produce green fuels with support from government funding announced today.

Between 2018 and 2032 low carbon fuels are expected to save nearly 85 million tonnes of CO2 - equivalent to taking nearly 18 million cars off the road. This equates to around a third of transport’s projected contribution to UK carbon savings during the 2020s. 

Future of Transport Minister George Freeman,

We made a legally binding commitment to reaching Net Zero. Now we are delivering. The UK is reducing CO2 emissions faster than any other G20 nation. We are doing it by investing in research and development, supporting the uptake of low emission and electrical vehicles, new inner city Clean Air Zones and the world’s first comprehensive Transport Decarbonisation Plan. This global leadership is helping create a 21st century transport network that is better for our environment, our health and our economy: with the potential to deliver high-skilled jobs in the green economy to all corners of the nation.

Two of the projects announced in the very last days of December are being funded under the government’s £20 million Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition (F4C).

KEW Projects and Rika Biogas have been awarded a share of £6.5 million to build plants which aim to provide fuel for heavy goods vehicles. The project at KEW will also begin research which could pave the way for low carbon aviation fuel. 

Over the next decade the UK advanced fuels industry is expected to be worth over £400 million and create 9,800 jobs. A further 2 projects, which are being funded under the £25 million Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Competition (ABDC), are also driving towards their final stages of development. This includes Nova Pangaea Technologies, who will focus on the production of bio-ethanol from wood waste that can be blended with existing petrol used in road transport. These latest investments build on the government’s push to go further and faster to harness innovation, drive down emissions and improve air quality – including through the ground-breaking Transport Decarbonisation Plan which will set out plans to end the UK’s transport emissions by 2050 and measures to rapidly increase electric vehicle infrastructure.

Diary dates below for your must-have courier express final mile

IOC Heads of industry round table Feb 4th

Fellows Gowning Feb 28th at House of Lords

Brexit looks like Jan 31st then. Next IOC heads of industry is Feb 4th, as above, Alan Lewis is confirmed for the employment status keynote in express final mile. Latest 2020 dates confirmed include the TfL LoCITY meetings, both light vehicle, van & HGV truck will be on the same days, 4 in the year, new dates added in the list below.

Alistair Cochrane Whistl, winner of the Life Services award at the National Courier Awards returns to fellows' gowning to be awarded his services hood, the key date is Fellows Gowning Feb 28th 2020 and it looks set to be a huge turnout.

Express, courier logistics - 2020 key dates

Jan 4th Carmen apprentice challenge – next generation logisticians travel above and below the Thames in a London logistics challenge to win the Carmen livery apprentice shield.

Jan 22nd 2020 future fleet forum conference/Exhibition and awards ceremony hosted by the City of London at Guildhall, New York and Montreal attending.

Jan 31st Brexit

Feb 4th IOC Heads of Industry – Fellows' round table London. ULEZ – Zero emission- Taylor – keynotes from Phil Martin DfT – Phil Shaw Investec - post Brexit – Alan Lewis Brexit risk impact to final mile. David Higginbottom Driver First Assist. Stuart Jackson TyreSafe, Neena Day HSE van focus.

Feb 11th TfL LoCITY – alternative fuel clean air round table London SW1 – TFL ULEZ update

Feb 28th IOC fellows' Gowning at the House of Lords.

March 10th – Mansion House Transport Banquet – Carmen Livery

March 31st / April 1st Intralogistex – Ricoh Arena Coventry

April 1st & 2nd IRX internet retail logistics show at the NEC

April 28th – 30th CV show NEC – 19,000 visitors, hundreds of exhibitors spanning the whole road transport, distribution and logistics supply sectors. Everything from truck, van, pick-up and trailer manufacturers through to fork-lift trucks, insurers, tyres, telematics and training providers.

May 5th TfL LoCITY round table on clean air final mile.

May 20th Microlise –Europe's largest freight conference at the Ricoh Arena Coventry,

June 2nd – 14th Transaid Land's End to John O’Groats cycle ride. Have you got a cup of tea ready for IOC Chair Carl Lomas to pit-stop at your depot on his 25-year-old courier cycle?

June 3rd-4th CiTTi exhibition Ricoh Arena Coventry, multi-modal transport solutions, real time traffic management, smart parking, autonomous vehicles, EV charging, congestion charging.

June 16th – 18th Multimodal – all modes of logistics trade show at the NEC.

July 14th DfT STAT - Strategic transport apprenticeship taskforce event.

July 15th Carmen Cartmarking at Guildhall Yard.

Sept 8th TfL LoCITY round table on clean air final mile.

October 20th 2020 National Courier Awards at the IOD pall Mall

Nov 10th TfL LoCITY round table on clean air final mile.