Why not park up your tandem-axle trailer and New Holland T6080, John Deere 6920S, Massey Ferguson 6480 or whatever trusty steed you currently pilot?
We have a more ‘sustainable’ way of hauling grain – courtesy of our good friends at Diageo.
You might think it’s just hot air, but the brewing giant has teamed up with its suppliers to commission a new gas-powered truck to deliver grain to the famous St. James’ Gate Brewery in Dublin. And we thought it was just another Scania!
Presumably, considering all the diesel that will no longer be needed, rampant savings will be passed on to hard-pressed ‘malt’ growers up and down the country.
So what has prompted the advent of this innovative rig?
‘The Low Carbon Supply Route’ project is a partnership between the Guinness brewer, its supplier Boortmalt and Harris Transport – to use a dedicated natural gas vehicle to deliver malted barley from Boormalt’s facility in Athy, Co. Kildare, to the iconic brewery in Dublin.
Brace yourself; here’s the science bit: The truck produces approximately 20% less carbon emissions than its diesel-powered equivalent. And eventually it could be fuelled by renewable biogas – an energy source that Diageo says it may adopt for its brewing operations.
The truck will be refuelled at a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling facility in Topaz Dublin Port, the first in a new network of filling stations that will be built by Gas Networks Ireland.
Let’s hope this novel truck is more reliable, efficient and presentable than my ageing neighbour’s ‘sustainable’ MF 65, which runs (albeit unsuccessfully) on a staple diet of chip fat, 7-Up and home heating oil…