Can training deliver measured GHG savings?

Posted on by

Yes, you can save fuel and get paid.

  • In 2011 we got a call to compile a database of energy saving measures for transport
  • In 2013 we piloted a transport energy efficiency training programme for EEOS.
  • In 2021 we looked back at the results . . . 89,476 t CO2e in avoided fuel burn 2014-20.
  • Jun’22 updated the graph below to include 2021 approved / accepted savings bringing cumulative total to 116,720t CO2e
  • May’24 updated graph again to reflect the accumulated savings to year ending 31st December 2023 of 199,915t CO2e.

We are delighted to see our customers and partners reap the rewards of their efforts in reducing fuel use in L/100km year on year with bonus payments of well over €1,200,000 to date.

Join now via https://www.ftai.ie/ecofleet and https://smartdriving.ie/save-fuel-get-paid/

ECOfleet results (accepted by SEAI, DECC & Minister)
ECOfleet results (accepted by SEAI, DECC & Minister)

The scheme is administered under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Programme (S.I131:2014, EU EED 2012 Art.7), regulated by SEAI and funded by Enprova – see http://enprova.ie/

  • It is a continuous improvement process; savings only count if improved upon previous year
  • Each year’s returns include savings from previous years, cumulative savings totalled from date of reporting only i.e. the cumulative total would be higher if totalled from actual year.
  • Partnered with Global Logistics Emissions Council and Smart freight Centre see https://www.smartfreightcentre.org/en/partners/

The measured and verified fuel savings amount to over €56,000,000 cumulatively since 2014 i.e. these fleets now use less fuel per Km than they did upon joining the scheme.

To convert the Litres saved into CO2e we use the Global Logistics Emissions Council well to wheel (WTW) factor of 3.17kg CO2e per litre of diesel with 5% biofuel (Irish road diesel has only just reached 5% so this is a conservative factor, the full fossil WTW factor is 3.24kg CO2e/Litre).

What have we learned along the way?

  • You can engage busy SMEs if you design the programme to meet their needs.
  • SMEs will invest the time to reduce fuel & emissions if incentives are delivered appropriately.

Is this the complete picture?

No.  Best practice is L or CO2e/Tonne-Km, where Tonnes carried for a given distance are available including empty running, for most vehicles this payload data is not available.

However this is changing with the latest systems having load sensors and the latest telematics systems collecting and transmitting this Tonne-km data. 

Of the 120 companies registered in the ECOfleet platform – used to collect and report the savings data to the EEOS – 87 saved enough fuel to be paid a bonus, and 5 are currently reporting proxies for payload weight.

We would hope to see savings in Litres and CO2e per Tonne-Km being reported in the years to come, in the meantime measured Litres and Km form a solid basis for calculating energy efficiency gains.  

References and links

Conor Molloy is an expert on the GLEC panel https://www.smartfreightcentre.org/en/glec-partnership/ 

ECOfleet is the name of the platform used to collect the data, registration is via partners such as FTAI and IRHA with the Irish Exporters Association joining in 2021.

S.I. No. 131/2014 – European Union (Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme) Regulations 2014 http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/si/131/made/en/print

IPIA / Fuels for Ireland Enprova fund http://enprova.ie/

SEAI EEOS pages https://www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/business-grants-and-supports/energy-efficiency-obligation-scheme/

Leave a Reply