Coffee-powered biofuel buses

Some buses in London are now being powered by fuel derived from waste coffee grounds.

Shell and clean technology company, bio-bean, are working together to power the capital’s buses using biofuel made from waste coffee grounds. The B20 biofuel used contains a 20% bio-component which contains part coffee oil. The substance is being added to the London bus fuel supply chain and will help to power some of the fleet; without need for any modifications to be made. The biofuel is seen as providing a cleaner, more sustainable energy solution for buses across London’s network, helping decrease emissions.

Coffee grounds are dried and processed before coffee oil is extracted from them. bio-bean works with its fuel partner, Argent Energy, to process this oil into a blended B20 biofuel.