Did you know that used cooking oil could be the key to sustainable mobility?

Recycling used cooking oil (UCO) could be much more than just household waste. UCO can be transformed into biodiesel, a renewable and cleaner fuel. Producing biodiesel from this by-product not only reduces the carbon footprint by taking advantage of waste that already exists, but also avoids the extraction of new fossil raw materials

This publication reveals its potential to become a fundamental source of biodiesel in the Basque Country. However, it highlights the barriers necessary for its deployment, such as optimizing the collection and management infrastructure, especially in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

Improvements needed to boost biodiesel production

This report highlights several key areas that need to be addressed to increase the availability of UCO for biodiesel production:

• 🛢️ Expansion of collection points: Increase the network of containers and collection points for used oil throughout the Basque Country, especially in the most urban areas.
• 🚛 Improved transport logistics: Ensure that the collected oil efficiently reaches the processing plants, reducing times and costs.
• 🌱 Incentivise the use of the HVO process: The HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) process to convert UCO into high-quality biodiesel requires to be incentivised through subsidies and government support.
• 🏞️ Citizen awareness campaigns: Raising awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of recycling UCO can encourage greater participation in the selective separation of used oil.

An opportunity for the energy future

It is not just about reducing waste, but about promoting a cleaner energy transition. Recycling used oil not only has a positive impact on the environment, but can also help the Basque Country move towards greater energy independence, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy.

If you want to know more about the opportunities and barriers of how used cooking oil can transform our way of generating energy, you can download the attached document.