Orla Stevens
Managing Director, Certa Ireland
Laura Byrne
Head of Sustainable Fuels, Certa Ireland
A company in the Irish energy sector is leading by example and powering its own operations with the same innovative sustainable fuels that it is offering to its customers.
“In the transition to a greener, more sustainable future, energy firms must show strong leadership,” says Orla Stevens, MD of Certa Ireland. Otherwise, domestic and business customers may think it’s a case of ‘don’t do as we do — do as we say,’ making it harder to persuade them to switch to green energy.
Irish energy firm promotes low-carbon HVO
Certa, an Irish energy supplier operating a network of 49 pay@pump forecourts and 29 home heating depots, has embarked on its own journey to become Ireland’s most progressive energy company.
It champions and uses Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a low-carbon biofuel. HVO is produced from waste plant matter and can be used as a direct replacement for diesel to help motorists lower their carbon emissions by up to 90%
HVO is also a transitional option for firms that want to lower their fleet’s carbon emissions but don’t currently have the capital to invest in electric vehicles.
“We have over 100 trucks on the road, all running on HVO,” says Stevens. “We’re also using the biofuel for some of our company cars. We are fully committed to introducing progressive energy solutions.
“HVO is a fantastic product,” explains Laura Byrne, Head of Sustainable Fuels. “It can be used as a direct replacement for diesel without any need for engine modifications, and because it matches the spec of regular diesel, customers don’t need to empty their tank before filling up with HVO.”
Making HVO and solar a real proposition for customers
HVO is also a transitional option for firms that want to lower their fleet’s carbon emissions but don’t currently have the capital to invest in electric vehicles. “HVO doesn’t compromise vehicle performance. It gives the same mileage and power,” says Byrne.
Certa’s leadership in renewables goes further than HVO. Last year, it acquired leading solar and renewable energy specialists Alternative Energy Ireland, which can install Solar PV systems to power homes and businesses. “We are also rolling out a plan that will allow our forecourts and depots to generate their own power from solar energy,” says Stevens. “We want our customers to know it’s an option for them, too.”
For Stevens, it’s important that the company doesn’t rest on its laurels. “Other renewable fuels and technologies will emerge,” she says. “We need to stay open to that, keep serving customers, and do the right thing in terms of being green and sustainable.”
