In the UK, Royal Air Force has trialed the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil to support current capabilities. The trial, which was called Project ESTER and took place at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, was conducted by squadrons of the RAF’s Support Force.
Five vehicles from 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron used hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as fuel for a five-month period, whilst 3 Mobile Catering Squadron also used the opportunity to trial HVO with the Operational Field Catering System. As ground fuel specialists, 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron (1ELS) also assisted with the trial.
This is the first time the RAF has trialled HVO in vehicles although the RAF has previously successfully trialled the use of HVO in boilers at RAF Leeming. The RAF is also powering vehicles using other energy sources, currently transitioning its white fleet to electric (and/or hybrid), whilst also undertaking trials with some of our larger air-side vehicles using hydrogen.
This trial was a collaborative partnership between RAF Wittering, Support Force, Fuels Role Office, ASTRA, Babcock – Phoenix 2, Western Global, Operational Energy Authority and World Fuels Services.
