An Post using vegetable fuel in Laois at Portlaoise hub

Tonnes less CO2 and other fossil pollutants from truck fuel fumes will be belched out into Laois with confirmation of a change in fuel by a big transport user in the town.

An Post has announced that the Portlaoise Mail Centre has received dedicated hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuelling infrastructure as part of a €360,000 investment across its three mail centres.

The State-owned company is switching its national fleet of over 200 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from diesel to HVO to cut carbon emissions.

To support this nationwide implementation, An Post says it has invested €360,000 in dedicated HVO fuelling infrastructure at its Portlaoise Mail Centre near Laois Hire O'Moore Park, along with Athlone and Dublin Mail Centres.

An Post says HVO is produced from waste materials, including used cooking oil. It is claimed to produce 90% fewer emissions than conventional diesel per litre and complies with EU sustainability regulations, and requires no vehicle modifications. An Post says the Laois roll-out builds on successful trials of HVO in Galway and Cork which it says delivered reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency compared to diesel. Fuel will be supplied through a partnership with Circle K, with up to 3 million litres delivered annually.

Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels spoke about the change.

“The move from diesel to HVO will eliminate 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ from An Post's operations annually, that’s the equivalent of removing 1,300 diesel cars from Ireland's roads or planting more than 300,000 trees each year. We’re designing Ireland’s mails and parcels infrastructure for the future, to support Irish business for generations to come, and our commitment to halving carbon emissions by the end of 2025 and achieving net zero by 2030 is at the heart of this,” he said.

A statment said this milestone features in An Post's Sustainability Report, which it said showcases significant progress across emissions reduction, electrification, biodiversity, and circular economy initiatives. It said the report confirms that 39.8% of the company's fleet now runs on alternative fuels, including HVO and EVs. It's claimed that this positions An Post on track to cut carbon emissions in half by year's end.

"This marks a watershed moment for An Post and sustainable transport in Ireland," said Owen Keogh, Head of Sustainability at An Post. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

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"The HVO rollout means we can deliver measurable climate impact nationwide — while simultaneously building the infrastructure and mindset essential for net zero success. Our progress is down to a continued investment in our fleet, our shift to alternative fuels and enabled by the exceptional colleagues who manage and operate our fleet on a daily basis," he said.

An Post says it has made a substantial investment in electric vehicles, with over 1,400 EVs deployed across its delivery network. The company says it is advancing programs in biodiversity restoration, sustainable procurement, inclusive employment, and circular economy practices.