Historic buildings and machines form an important part of the UK’s heritage tourism industry, attracting millions of paying visitors every year. Thousands of people work and volunteer in it, and it forms part of the UK’s international identity. Steam engines, on railways and roads, in ships and factories, form a major part of this but their future is under threat from the end of coal as a fuel. To help them continue to inform, educate and entertain, an alternative Net-Zero-Carbon fuel is needed.

Three-C teams from Wales and Ireland drew on contacts from many different sectors to identify a suitable alternative fuel made from 100% biomass. This product will be trialled in several steam locomotives and its formula can be adapted to give optimum combustion performance. We will also research alternative local types of biomass so that biocoal for this niche market can be produced from local sustainable resources.

That sounds promising? Find out more and come to Göttingen in September 2022.