English soccer side Ipswich Town FC is aiming to have the greenest turf in soccer after it announced that it is piloting a trial to move away from diesel-powered ground machinery to cleaner-burning alternative fuel.
The club is committing to improving air quality at its Playford Road training center by transitioning to Shell GTL (gas to liquid) fuel to run its fleet of mowers and tractors, which claims to reduce nitrogen oxide by up to 37% and particulate matter emissions by up to 90% compared to diesel fuel.
The environmental benefits of the trial will be closely measured and if successful, Ipswich Fc may expand the use of GTL to the ground machinery used at its Portman Road Stadium.
Ipswich Town Football Club grounds manager, Ben Connell, spoke on the motivation behind the switch to and alternative fuel: “We believed that the club – and our neighbors – would benefit from adopting an odorless fuel with lower emissions that can reduce noise levels in engines. The grounds staff work with machinery all day and we were conscious of how regular diesel emissions may have been affecting their health and wellbeing.
“Furthermore, our Playford Road Training Centre in Rushmere-St Andrew is surrounded by a number of residential properties and we felt a responsibility to minimize the environmental impact on the local community – Shell GTL fuel was an ideal solution.
“I think the highest praise we can give Shell GTL Fuel is that we haven’t noticed it at all. It’s been business as usual since we made the switch from diesel: no operational issues, no teething problems – completely seamless.”
