Japanese tourist trains start trialing biocoke and UCO-based biodiesel

In Japan, Kyodo News reports began a one-year trial of biocoke in its coal-fired steam locomotives on Jan. 31 as it aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. The biocoked is made from made from buckwheat chaff, wood chips, coffee grounds and other materials and is blended at 40% with coal during the trial. Another of the company’s trains will trial biodiesel from used cooking oil during the same period. The biocoke is expected to cut emissions by 150 metric tons annually on the tourist trains while the biodiesel should reduce emissions by 2.5 tons annually.