Living Fuels has perfected a method of refining used cooking oil into a biofuel – LF100, which can be used to generate clean energy - and is calling for the UK Government to change current legislation which continues to treat their fuel as a waste product, imposing additional financial restrictions, and making their process commercially unviable.

The plans Living Fuels has to produce Combined Heat and Power (CHP) from LF100 on a large scale fall directly within the remit of the UK Renewable Energy Strategy.

Ian Collins, managing director at Living Fuels, said, “recycling used cooking oil not only supports the public sector’s commitment to the environment but also the wants and needs of many commercial businesses looking to increase their sustainability. At this point in time, Environmental Permitting Regulations are exposing biofuels such as LF100 to the full effects of the inconsistencies between Government strategy and UK legislation, despite the Government line on supporting renewable energy.”

The result of the discrepancy is that many innovative, renewable energy initiatives are being exposed to inappropriate regulatory burden, he continues, adding: “the gulf between strategy and regulation means that there is currently a greater legislative and financial burden on our carbon-neutral fuel than less environmentally-friendly fossil fuel counterparts, such as diesel. The regulations currently put the UK at a major disadvantage in comparison with Europe, where such restrictions do not apply.”