The legacy of the 'poo bus'

A fleet of buses powered by renewable sources could help reduce air emissions in UK cities after a number of green transport projects received government backing

The announcement from The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) comes less than a year after the UK’s first poo-powered bus trial took place in Bristol.

The pioneering approach by Wessex Water’s renewable energy company GENeco involved the Bio-Bus being powered on gas generated during the treatment of inedible food waste and sewage.

The Bio-Bus provided a regular service in Bristol during the city’s European Green Capital year and started a global debate on how biomethane buses running on renewable sources could significantly reduce air emissions in cities around the world.

The successful trial was backed by passengers and environmental organisations which recognised the environmental benefits of the bus, which also has a lower carbon footprint compared to vehicles powered by traditional diesel engines.

OLEV has now awarded bus operators and local authorities across England a share of funding to buy low emission buses and install chargepoints and other infrastructure in other parts of the country.

Among the buses set to take to the streets in areas, including Nottingham and Liverpool, are more than 70 biomethane powered buses.

GENeco managing director Mohammed Saddiq said: “The Bio-Bus was operated in the Bristol and Bath area for more than a year and it was extremely successful with both passengers and environmental organisations praising the initiative.

“Most importantly it started a global debate on how biomethane buses running on renewable sources could significantly reduce air emissions in cities around the world.

“We’re delighted to see that one of the legacies of the Bio-Bus is that following the successful OLEV bids there are now set to be more than 70 biomethane buses running in other parts of the country.”

Building on the success of the Bio-Bus initiative, GENeco is now injecting gas into the gas network and powers thousands of homes in the Bristol area.

Remarkably the gas people are using to cook with and provide heat in homes is unknowingly produced by themselves and their families.

Mr Saddiq added: “Powering people’s homes using waste from the local area is a real-life example of the circular economy in action.”