INDUSTRY NEWS: COMMENT


A POWERFUL BLUEPRINT FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: POWERING UK BUSINESSES OPERATIONS WITH USED COOKING OIL (UCO)


By Suzanne McKenzie, sales director at Lifecycle Oils The pressure to decarbonise, reduce waste and improve sustainability has become an immediate operational priority for UK businesses. For many, particularly in the food industry, part of the answer to this could lie in a waste product produced in huge volumes every day: used cooking oil (UCO). UCO is no longer seen as a problematic waste stream – it’s a valuable source


of sustainable, low-carbon energy. By embracing a circular model, businesses can use this waste as a powerful tool for cutting costs, reducing emissions and powering their operations with their waste products. Our entire business model at Lifecycle Oils is built on this circular principle.


We offer a fully closed-loop service that begins with supplying UK food businesses with fresh, sustainably sourced, cooking oils. We then provide comprehensive fat, oil, and grease (FOG) management services, helping businesses avoid the costly drain blockages and potential fines that can result from improper disposal under the Water Industry Act 1991. The next step is collection. We collect the UCO and transport it to our state-


of-the-art processing facility in Wednesbury, West Midlands. This new plant, which opened in May 2025, can produce up to 100 million litres of biofuel products annually using UCO gathered from across the UK food sector. Here, we transform the UCO into


high-quality, sustainable biofuels, including our patented LF100 biofuel. To close the loop, we supply this LF100 back to our UK food customers to power their generators, enabling them to run their factories on their recycled oil. To demonstrate our commitment, we power our entire Wednesbury plant using the very LF100 biofuel we produce on-site! It isn’t just food companies that


can benefit from this – any business with its own generators can use LF100. We supply it to manufacturers to power their operations, to leisure businesses and holiday parks to power their back-up generators, and to the entertainment industry, where


it is used to power festival generators and even electric car charging points. Biofuels have a


mixed reputation in sustainability circles, and how sustainable a biofuel is depends heavily on what it’s made from. The benefits of


second-generation biofuels made from waste like UCO are substantial. Unlike first-generation biofuels derived from virgin crops like palm oil or rapeseed oil, they do not compete for land that could be used for food production or drive deforestation. By repurposing a waste stream, we sidestep the significant carbon emissions associated with agricultural production. When benchmarked against conventional diesel, biodiesel produced from UCO can slash lifecycle carbon footprints by an estimated 80-90%. Even compared to first-generation biofuels, research indicates typical carbon savings of around 40%. For businesses looking to cut Scope emissions, reduce waste or


implement more circular principles into their operations, it can drive huge progress – especially for organisations wrangling with their Net Zero and carbon reduction commitments! The positive impact of making biofuels from UCO extends far beyond the


food industry. The UCO we process is also used as a feedstock to produce other advanced biofuels, including Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which are vital for decarbonising transport, energy and industrial power systems across the UK. With UK mandates requiring a 2% blend of SAF in all jet fuel in 2025, rising to 10% by 2030, this waste-to-fuel pathway is essential for helping the aviation sector meet its critical emission reduction targets. The journey of UCO from the fryer to fuel is a powerful blueprint for


the circular economy in action. It demonstrates how we can re-evaluate waste, turning a liability into a valuable resource that can power a more sustainable, lower-waste tomorrow across all of UK industry.


https://lifecycleoils.com/


SOLAR PV AND BATTERY STORAGE PROVIDE RELIABLE POWER FOR UKRAINE HOSPITAL


Since the start of the war, the Slobozhanske Hospital in northeastern Ukraine has endured prolonged power outages with blackouts lasting up to 18 hours a day. Now, however, a 36.5 kWp rooftop solar PV and battery storage system has been installed, delivering a reliable and resilient power supply to the hospital. The project was delivered by RePower Ukraine,


with support from UK companies Photon Energy and Segen. Photon Energy and Midsummer Energy raised £15,000 to cover the cost of the mounting system, cabling and installation, with Photon Energy also donating 84 solar panels. The cabling and mounting components were


sourced from local companies, and the system was installed by Ukrainian engineers specially trained to design and maintain energy systems capable


www.essmag.co.uk


of operating reliably under wartime conditions. Spencer Conday, managing director of Segen,


commented: “We are honoured to support this critical initiative alongside Photon Energy. The installation at Slobozhanske Hospital is a powerful example of how renewable energy can do more than reduce carbon – it can literally save lives. “In parts of the world where grid power is


unstable or unavailable, clean energy systems with battery storage and backup capability provide more than just electricity – they offer resilience, safety and hope. At Segen, we believe access to energy is a fundamental right, and we’re proud to contribute technology and expertise to help frontline communities maintain essential healthcare services, even under the most extreme conditions.” Yulia Bila, a spokesperson for the Hospital, added:


“During this extremely difficult time for Ukraine, when the healthcare system faces new challenges due to the ongoing military aggression, this contribution is exceptionally valuable. Thanks to the installation of this alternative energy source, the hospital will be able to maintain stable and uninterrupted operations, ensuring continuous medical care for our patients.”


www.segen.co.uk/info/ ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2025 5


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