Northeast Utilities Uses Environmentally Safe Alternative to Petroleum

Enlarge Image For six months, Northeast Utilities tested Terresolve's EnviroLogic 122 fluid in place of its conventional petroleum-based hydraulic fluid.

December 21, 2005 — Like most utilities, Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P), Hartford, Conn., a division of Northeast Utilities, has multiple incidents of spilled petroleum hydraulic fluid each year that exposes the company to environmental liabilities and cleanup costs. To protect its constituents and reduce environmental costs, CL&P began looking for an environmentally safe alternative to petroleum. After an extensive search, the utility began testing Terresolve Technology, Ltd.'s natural ester-based (vegetable) EnviroLogic 122 in place of its conventional petroleum-based hydraulic fluid. Northeast Utilities' facility in Torrington, Conn., began a six-month field demonstration using the fluid in a truck-mounted aerial lift.

 

Although Northeast knew some of the benefits of using bio-based, renewable lubricants, the utility company was skeptical of their performance • especially in cold weather. While Terresolve biodegradable lubricants are more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based products, if they don't work, who cares how safe they are?

 

According to Mark Miller, CEO of Terresolve, the lubricants are thoroughly tested by standard industry tests. “Our products, at a minimum, must meet the same performance specifications that conventional petroleum products must meet,” he said.

Enlarge Image Graph 1: EL122 vs. Petroleum ISO 22 Viscosity vs. Temperature

 

Northeast Utilities tested EnviroLogic 122's performance for six months and determined that the fluid performed well • even through the bitter cold month of January • and met all major equipment manufacturer's requirements. “The fluid's cold temperature performance is almost exactly equivalent to that of high-performance petroleum products,” Miller said. (See Graph 1).

Enlarge Image Graph 2: Northeast Utilities Vehicle 34742 with Envirologic 122

In fact, due to the extremely high viscosity index (200 as compared to 100 for petroleum), EL 122 maintains its viscosity over a broad temperature range. To date, CL&P has found that Terresolve vegetable oils have reduced friction and pump wear better than petroleum-based lubricants. Less friction means hydraulics run more efficiently and can increase the life of the equipment (see Graph 2). As a result of the initial testing, Northeast Utilities is expanding the use of environmentally safe fluids throughout its system.

National Crane ENVI boom truck

Enlarge Image National Crane's ENVI boom truck was first introduced at ICUEE, and Scott Powerline & Utility took ownership of the first unit.

National Crane, Shady Grove, Pa., is taking environmentally safe alternatives to the next level with its 20-ton capacity 690EU ENVI boom truck, which runs on biodegradable diesel and uses Terresolve Technologies' EnviroLogic® 3046 vegetable-based oil throughout its hydraulic system. The first ENVI unit was delivered to Scott Powerline & Utility Equipment, Monroe, La., at ICUEE, and according to Tommy Scott, sales and marketing director at Scott Powerline & Utility Equipment, environmental concerns have not been a major concern for most of its customers. However, more and more job owners are starting to place restrictions on what types of fuel and oils can be used • particularly government jobs or on government lands.

 

Scott said that in recent weeks a machine working in a hurricane-hit area had a hydraulic leak. “The oil that spilled on the ground had to be dug up, and the dirt hauled away,” he said. Although the vegetable-based hydraulic fluid costs more than regular hydraulic oil, he said, “The vegetable-based oil may be expensive but cleaning up oil spills can cost more.”

 

If this experiment goes well, and the cost associated with environmental friendly machines come down a bit, Scott said that Scott Powerline would consider purchasing additional units for its rental fleet and inventory. “Hopefully, alternative fuels and lubricants that are environmentally friendly will catch on once people see that it doesn't have a negative effect on performance,” he said. “We feel proud to offer a machine like this and feel that it is a practice of good corporate social responsibility.”

 

For more information on Terresolve ester-based lubricants and fluids, visit www.terresolve.com.