SUEZ trials electric HGV to reduce carbon emissions from alternative fuel transport
The new MAN eTGX electric truck, introduced in partnership with Baxter's Haulage Ltd, will be used to transport Climafuel®, a high-energy alternative fuel produced by SUEZ from non-recyclable household, commercial and industrial waste.
Replacing the existing diesel Iveco S-Way, the electric vehicle is expected to complete approximately 11 journeys each day across two routes, transporting 72,000 tonnes of Climafuel® annually between the facilities. This includes eight loads between SUEZ’s Malpass Farm facility and Cemex UK’s cement plant, alongside three overnight loads from the Landor Street facility in Birmingham, covering approximately 214 miles.
To support the longer overnight journeys, the vehicle will use the newly opened Electroway electric HGV charging facility at Magna Park, Lutterworth, which offers high-powered charging infrastructure capable of delivering up to 400kW.
The move is expected to eliminate approximately 44,700 of litres of diesel consumption each year, reducing transport-related CO₂ emissions by 109 tonnes annually.
Sean Matty, Regional Manager at SUEZ, said: “This is another positive step in our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations and the services we provide to our customers.
“Our partnership with Cemex UK is already an excellent example of how the waste and resources sector can support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, by transforming non-recyclable waste into a valuable alternative fuel.
“By looking at how we transport that fuel, as well as how we produce it, we can identify further opportunities to reduce emissions across the supply chain. Working alongside our partners, we are proactively identifying changes to established operations to work towards a more sustainable future.”
SUEZ’s Malpass Farm facility processes non-recyclable waste converting it into Climafuel® for use in Cemex UK’s Rugby cement kiln as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
In December 2024, SUEZ and Cemex UK celebrated the supply of one million tonnes of Climafuel® since the facility opened in 2015, displacing more than 750,000 tonnes of coal consumption at the cement plant.
Lee Needham, Inbound Manager, Cemex UK Cement Operations, said: “We’re very excited to be involved in this electric truck trial. The transition to lower-emission transport will undoubtedly play an important role in the future of haulage, and trials like this give us the opportunity to understand how the technology can work in real-world operations.
“It’s another positive step towards reducing the environmental impact of our supply chain and supporting the wider sustainability ambitions of Cemex UK and our business partners.”
James Baxter, Managing director at Baxter’s Haulage, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting SUEZ with this trial. Running the MAN eTGX on such a busy route, with around 11 journeys a day, is a real test of what electric HGVs can do, and we’re confident it will show they can deliver the reliability heavy haulage demands.
“Cutting around 44,700 litres of diesel a year is a significant result, and we’re proud to be playing our part in making the Climafuel® supply chain cleaner.”
The initiative highlights the opportunities for businesses across the waste management, transport and energy-intensive sectors to work collaboratively to reduce emissions, while maintaining the reliable supply of alternative fuels essential to industry and manufacturing.