Ford goes greener

The extra turbine from Ecotricity will enable the diesel centre to remain 100 per cent wind powered following installation of a new Ford 1.4/1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine line. The existing two Ecotricity wind turbines at Ford Dagenham have avoided over 6,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year since 2004. The third turbine, which is subject to planning approval, would have the capacity to produce 1.8 megawatts of green electricity for Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre – the equivalent of powering 1,000 homes. Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Ford Dagenham is at the forefront of sustainable business – in both its manufacturing technology and its products. Low emission cars are increasingly in demand, with Ford's ECOnetic range leading on performance and production." Dale Vince OBE, Ecotricity managing director, said: "When household names like Ford use wind energy for everyday operations, it's a powerful endorsement of wind energy's credibility. It's quite special to see demand for cleaner engines grow and we're delighted to work with Ford to increase their capacity to build more 'wind-powered diesel engines'." Other environmental actions at the plant include metal filings from engine machining being squeezed dry of lubricant, shaped into briquettes and sold on to foundries supplying car parts such as brake castings. Instead of mineral oil, diluted vegetable oil is used on site for engine machining both as a coolant and to remove swarf. Oil conservation at Ford Dagenham exceeds 500,000 litres per year and of the 2,000,000 litres of renewable coolant held on site, only a fifth is renewed every year. Coolant which has passed through the machining process is filtered for reuse, while iron and aluminium filings are separated by magnets. Because vegetable oil-based lubricants are used at reduced concentrations, coolant consumption has halved. Elsewhere in Essex, Ford's Dunton technical centre has also signed up for green energy. The product development HQ will cut the CO2 it produces by 65 per cent – or 36,100 tonnes – by moving to electricity from renewable sources.