London Assembly Member Leonie Cooper visited Dearman on Friday, ahead of London Climate Action Week which runs 1st-8th July.
Leonie visited Dearman to see ongoing testing being undertaken for a major UK supermarket looking to expand its deployment of Dearman technology, in conjunction with Loughborough University.
Dearman’s groundbreaking, zero-emission technology is a liquid nitrogen-powered engine seeking to displace diesel technologies. Its most advanced application is in secondary engines to power the refrigeration of delivery trucks.
Dearman is testing the fuel consumption of a diesel transport refrigeration unit (TRU) compared to Dearman TRUs and an earlier generation of cryogenic TRU piloted by emissions-conscious retailers like Marks & Spencer.
Marks & Spencer has long been seeking clean alternatives to diesel TRUs, and has been piloting Dearman technology since last August to make chilled and frozen deliveries from its Hemel Hempstead depot.
Dearman’s award-winning technology has already been successfully deployed by other sustainability-driven companies like Sainsbury’s and Unilever.
With the UK government this week adopting a ‘net zero’ carbon emissions target for 2050, supermarkets and retailers are looking to get ahead of the curve by adopting cleaner technologies to replace polluting diesel incumbents. Customers are also increasingly expect brands to take a leadership role in driving sustainability.
While a typical secondary diesel engine in a refrigerated truck emits as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) as 80 Euro 6 cars, the Dearman engine eliminates all particulate matter and NOx emissions.
On top of health secretary Matt Hancock declaring air pollution “a health emergency”, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan recently declared a climate emergency, and has backed the first ever London Climate Action Week. A series of events have been organised throughout the week to raise awareness of solutions to support the Paris Climate Agreement and cut carbon emissions to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C.
Commenting on her visit, Leonie Cooper AM said:
“I was delighted to visit Dearman and see at first hand a groundbreaking London-made technology that could make a huge difference to air quality in the capital and around the country. I got the chance view crucial emissions testing Dearman is undertaking ahead of scaling up the deployment of its technology.
“A major part of London’s first ever Climate Action Week is sending a message that zero-emission technologies like Dearman’s are technologies of the future. So it was great to see a technology provider and a fleet operator working together to get ahead of the curve. Supermarkets need clarity from ministers on the future regulation of transport refrigeration units and the diesel subsidies they currently use. It is vital we lower any barriers and support the uptake of alternative clean technologies.”
Commenting, Dearman’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Mac Meekin, said:
“We were very pleased to host Leonie, given her track record in campaigning on environmental matters, especially air quality. With London Climate Action Week upon us, it was also a chance to highlight innovation happening right here in London to tackle the major global issue of air pollution. The emissions testing we showed Leonie is an important milestone towards scaling up the use of our technology. We expect the results to show that Dearman technology is significantly cleaner than diesel incumbents and competing cryogenic technologies.
“We also need ministers to reduce diesel subsidies and give local government additional powers to regulate emissions from secondary engines of refrigerated trucks. City Hall should also look at what steps it can take in the meantime to encourage the replacement of diesel technologies with zero-emission alternatives. We are grateful for Leonie’s support and look forward to continuing to work with her to progress these goals.”
SOURCE: Dearman
