New Groundbreaking Technology Can Reduce Leeds Air Pollution By 19 Tons Each Year

A new engine developed by Dearman which runs on liquid nitrogen has the potential to help solve the air pollution crisis that has gripped Leeds and cities across the UK. The engine has also been found to be cost-effective and to emit no air pollution whatsoever. Read More

The Dearman liquid nitrogen TRU emits no air pollution, unlike conventional diesel engines.

Dearman's liquid nitrogen engines have been designed to power transport refrigeration units (trus) that are used in trucks to keep food and other goods cool while in transit. Trus are typically powered by diesel engines but are not subject to the same emission standards as the main engine of ordinary vehicles and consequently, tru engines can emit six times more air pollution than the diesel engines that are used in ordinary vehicles. If Dearman's new engine were to replace the diesel engines that are currently used across Leeds in these trus, it is predicted that the groundbreaking technology could reduce air pollution emissions by 19 tons each year. This would be due to the fact that Dearman's innovative liquid nitrogen Tru engine emits no air pollution at all as well 80 percent fewer greenhouse gases than the diesel engines currently used.


The trial was undertaken over nine months using vehicles part of the Yorkshire logistics fleet which was equipped with Dearman's liquid nitrogen engine. In addition, the next generation of Dearman trus, which are due to be completed in 2019, are approximately 20 percent cheaper to operate than the diesel powered trus. As we can see, Dearman's new engines are far better than the pollution causing diesel engines that tru's are currently using as they emit no pollution and are cheaper to operate.

The Dearman liquid nitrogen TRU emits no air pollution, unlike diesel engines.

However, the report also suggests that the current use of government subsidised "red diesel" (which may not be used in primary engines but is permitted for trus) could slow the implementation of this pollution solving technology. For transport initiatives like this to work, overarching legislation from the government is necessary (I recommend reading this post from my Legal Principle blog if you'd like to know more about the lack of air pollution legislation). Alan Andrews, a lawyer from ClientEarth, has stated that “Local authorities can’t solve all these problems themselves, there needs to be national leadership. The government’s new air quality plan doesn’t commit to doing very much at all. It’s really a plan for more plans.” 

Leeds City Council will be using the data that has been collected from this successful trial as evidence to show the effects of diesel-powered trus on local air quality and help combat it. The results of the study will also be disseminated widely to support other local authorities that are experiencing severe air pollution. 


This trial was possible due to a £150,000 grant for air quality awarded last year by the Ministry of Environment and Food and Rural Affairs to Leeds City Council.