Buses Powered by 100% Renewable Energy Produced from Used Cooking Oil Begin Operation in Lisbon
The 'Beato Biobus,', a bus route operated by CARRIS that gives a new life to used cooking oils, starts operation today. As part of this pilot project, buses on the 794 route will use this type of energy - ZERO Diesel B100 - produced from used cooking oil, promoting the circular economy. economia circular.
The 'Beato Biobus' is an initiative integrated into the Beato Living Lab, co-financed by the 'EEA Grants' programme, and brings together CARRIS, PRIO, Unicorn Factory Lisboa / Startup Lisboa, Lisboa E-Nova, and the Lisbon City Council. Part of the used cooking oil converted into energy is collected from 15 schools in the Eastern area of Lisbon, involving over 4500 students from preschool to secondary school and the entire school community in this innovative solution.The oils are then sent to PRIO's Production Centre in Ílhavo, Aveiro, and transformed into ZERO Diesel B100, a biofuel supplied to CARRIS to operate the route dubbed 'Beato Biobus.'
With this action, CARRIS and PRIO aim to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by about 400 tonnes2) per yearpromote waste recycling, and decrease the import of energy resources.
The Route 794 is one of the routes serving the Unicorn Factory Lisboa - Beato Innovation District, a symbol of innovation in the city of Lisbon; it traverses the area of the city where the schools involved in the collection of used cooking oils (UCO).
The 'Beato Biobus' is also part of the strategy to transform the Beato Innovation District into a Smart Campus, aiming to implement urban strategies for its sustainability and environmental resilience.
Pedro de Brito Bogas, Chairman of the Board of CARRIS. emphasizes that “Today is an important day for the city of Lisbon, demonstrating through this example how to lead decarbonisation and energy transition. We have a project that unites several critical points in promoting a better environment, starting with an environmental education action that involves thousands of children from schools in the Eastern Zone of Lisbon; promotes waste recycling; helps save water resources; reduces CO2 emissions and contributes to Lisbon being effectively carbon neutral by 2030."
For Anabela Antunes, COO of PRIO Bio, and Member of the Executive Committee of PRIO, “At PRIO, we are committed to innovation and sustainability, and we are proud to have partners who share the same motivation. This pioneering project is a clear example of how we can collectively promote the circular economy and reduce the carbon footprint in our cities."
The 'Beato Biobus' is a pilot project that started in 2022, with the phase of buses running on energy produced from used cooking oil beginning now and expected to continue until the end of this year.
