Mullingar SEC lobby minister on subsidies for HVO fuels

The Mullingar Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) have met Minister Peter Burke to discuss two issues – the fact that the government’s 7.5 cent per litre diesel subsidy for hauliers and coach operators does not also apply to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO); and the barriers it is facing in developing a community-owned solar farm on the former landfill site in Marlinstown (see panel, below right).

The diesel subsidy introduced by the government to help operators manage rising costs applies only to fossil diesel. As a result, renewable alternatives such as HVO remain at a financial disadvantage, despite their ability to significantly reduce emissions and integrate seamlessly into existing diesel engines.

HVO is produced from renewable waste materials such as waste oils and agricultural waste, and it can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70–90%, depending on feedstock and production methods.

Previous concerns that HVO contained waste products from palm oil processing (POME) have been addressed by EU Certification and all HVO sold in Ireland is POME free.

That makes it one of the most effective short term tools available for cutting emissions from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and long distance coaches, during the wait for the transition to electric to happen.

Brian Browne, chairperson of the Mullingar SEC, said: “The current structure of the subsidy effectively rewards continued use of fossil diesel. If the same support applied to renewable fuels, many operators would transition much more quickly.”

William Flanagan, director of Zellwood, who have a haulage depot in Mullingar, told the SEC that they are using 25,000 litres of HVO each week in vehicles at their Mullingar depot.

“We already run some of our trucks on HVO and we and our customers are absorbing the additional cost because we want to reduce our carbon emissions – which we are told is a government priority.

“If the diesel levy applied equally to HVO, we would move more of the fleet over without hesitation, provided the supply of HVO was available,” he said.

Globally, freight transport is undergoing rapid technological change and the future is electric and possibly hydrogen, says Mullingar SEC.

In China, 2025 marked the first year in which more electric HGVs were purchased than diesel, showing how quickly the sector can shift when policy direction and market conditions align.

While electric HGVs will form a major part of Ireland’s future transport mix, Mullingar SEC notes that such new technologies will take time to become widely available, affordable and practical across all haulage operations.

Until then, HVO represents a vital bridging fuel capable of producing immediate emissions reductions without requiring new vehicles or infrastructure.

The Mullingar SEC has written to the minister for finance and the minister for transport calling for an immediate change, and has also written to local TDs and senators urging them to also advocate for the change on their behalf.

Barriers to progress with solar park

Mullingar SEC also updated Minister Burke about the difficulties it has faced over the last five years in developing a 5MW 100% community-owned solar farm on the former municipal landfill site at Marlinstown.

The group has spent more than €40,000 on various studies to get the solar park designed, environmentally screened and to secure a connection to the grid.

Last year, however, the project ran aground after to the expiration of the grid connection agreement due to planning issues surrounding the route to the nearest sub-station and associated grid connection costs.

The SEC is back pursuing the project, but needs the support of Westmeath County Council to assist by agreeing to a pre-planning meeting.

The Marlinstown Solar Park project could power hundreds of homes in Mullingar, and make Mullingar more energy secure, which is increasingly important given the implications of the current US/Israel war with Iran.

The SEC presented its proposal for a Community Renewables Startup Package (CRSP) proposal document to Minister Burke. That is a comprehensive package of financial and technical supports designed to help communities develop their renewable energy projects.

The proposal highlights the barriers volunteers face, but also shows a clear path for community groups like the Mullingar SEC to develop renewable energy projects that are financially viable and contribute to the community.

The representatives from the Mullingar SEC thanked Minister Burke for his time and undertook to keep him updated on the solar park project.